Poland - Factors to Watch May 8

Budimex SA

08/05/2025 06:51

WARSAW, May 8 - The following are significant news stories, press reports and events on Thursday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

INTEREST RATES

Poland's central bank cut interest rates for the first time since October 2023 on Wednesday, slashing the cost of credit by 50 basis points citing slowing inflation, weakening wage growth and worsening economic conditions.

On Thursday, the Governor of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) will hold a conference during which he will present the justification for the decision to cut interest rates.

POLAND AND GERMANY LEADERS MEETING

Germany's new chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled a new start in relations with European partners France and Poland, but there were indications of tough discussions ahead on thorny issues like illegal migration and defence financing.

MEETING OF EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS

On Thursday, a two-day informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union and the candidate and potential candidate countries to the EU will conclude in Warsaw.

POLISH-FRENCH TREATY

Poland is set to sign a treaty with France on Friday, which will serve as a basis for deepening cooperation in the arms and aviation sectors. The talks concern, among others, submarines, flying tankers and 155-millimeter ammunition, Rzeczpospolita daily reported.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The candidate of Poland's ruling Civic Coalition (KO), Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, leads ahead of a May 18 presidential election with support of 31%, according to an Opinia24 poll for TVN and TVN24 private broadcasters published on Wednesday.

BUDIMEX

Poland's biggest construction and engineering company Budimex BDXP.WA reported a 4% drop in first-quarter net profit to 114.3 million zlotys ($30.3 million) on Thursday, hit by weather conditions that impacted sales of construction and assembly services in Central and Eastern Europe.

NETTO STORES

Netto, a Danish discount chain, aims to have 1,000 stores in Poland by the end of 2028. It will open some of them and intends to buy the rest, Puls Biznesu daily reported.

****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****

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 (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau)

 ((warsaw.newsroom@reuters.com; tel. +48 22 6539700))