Business
Denmark Ranks as Europe’s Most Affordable Country for Homebuyers, Report Finds
A recent study by BestBrokers.com has revealed that Denmark offers the shortest time to save for a home in Europe, with the average property requiring the equivalent of 114 net monthly salaries to purchase. The report, which assessed property affordability across 62 countries, considered factors such as average income, property prices, inflation, and real mortgage interest rates (adjusted for inflation).
Denmark Leads for Affordability
According to the findings, a 100-square-meter property in Denmark is the most affordable in Europe relative to wages, despite the country being one of the EU’s most expensive in terms of goods and services. Eurostat data from 2023 indicated that prices for goods and services in Denmark were 43% above the EU average. However, high average earnings — the seventh-highest in Europe — offset the cost of housing, making homeownership more attainable.
Ireland and Sweden followed Denmark as the second and third most affordable European countries, requiring 123 and 129 net monthly salaries, respectively, to purchase a 100-square-meter property. This translates to roughly 10 years of annual earnings.
Challenges in Eastern Europe
At the other end of the spectrum, Slovakia and the Czech Republic were identified as the least affordable countries in Europe for homebuyers. In Slovakia, the average home costs 297 monthly salaries, equating to nearly 25 years of wages. For individuals saving half of their income, it would still take 50 years of disciplined saving to afford a family home.
Global Affordability Rankings
The report extended its analysis beyond Europe, naming South Africa as the world’s most affordable country to buy property relative to wages. In South Africa, a 100-square-meter home costs 71 monthly salaries, or just under six years of earnings. The United States ranked second, requiring 76 average monthly salaries to purchase a home, though property prices vary significantly across states.
Nepal and Turkey ranked as the least affordable countries globally. In Nepal, 684 monthly salaries are needed to buy a home, while in Turkey, the figure is 631, equivalent to over 52 years of income.
A Theoretical Assessment
BestBrokers.com clarified that their analysis provides a theoretical perspective, excluding living costs such as food, rent, childcare, and other expenses. It offers a snapshot of property affordability, but real-world factors could significantly impact the timeline for homeownership.
Caution Advised
The report serves as a guide but cautions readers to consider their circumstances before making financial decisions. Housing affordability is influenced by local economic conditions, and saving strategies will differ widely across regions.
This analysis highlights disparities in property affordability and underscores the significant challenges faced by aspiring homeowners in many parts of the world.
Business
Strong Demand for Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Met With Chaos, Potential Tariff Concerns

Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 opened in the United States early Thursday and sold out within minutes across major retailers, highlighting massive consumer interest ahead of the console’s official launch on June 5. However, market experts warn that rising geopolitical tensions and new U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports could soon push prices even higher for electronics like gaming consoles.
Retailers including Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and GameStop experienced a surge of traffic overnight, with many customers reporting technical glitches, long wait times, and canceled orders. Listings for the new console — priced at $449.99 (€396.6) — appeared as “out of stock” or “unavailable” within minutes of going live.
GameStop, which offered both online and in-store pre-orders, confirmed overwhelming demand had temporarily disrupted its website. “We’re seeing overwhelming demand for Switch 2, which is causing some site issues,” the company posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The retailer added it would work to remove duplicate or bot orders to reopen availability, though online inventory was already depleted by Thursday afternoon.
Nintendo acknowledged the “very high demand” and said it is working to fulfill orders through its My Nintendo Store, but warned that delivery by the June 5 launch date is not guaranteed. “The excitement around this online pre-order was incredible,” Walmart said in a statement, confirming that its stock had also sold out quickly.
Pre-orders were initially scheduled for April 9 but were delayed amid growing concerns over new U.S. tariffs. Nintendo cited the need to “assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions” before proceeding.
The timing of the Switch 2’s release comes as the electronics industry faces potential price volatility due to trade tensions. President Donald Trump’s decision to implement new tariffs on Chinese goods, combined with retaliatory measures from China, has raised fears of price hikes on a broad range of consumer electronics. Economists warn that gaming consoles could be among the products most affected, given their reliance on international supply chains.
While the new features of the Switch 2 — including a larger screen, interactive chat, and new game titles — justify part of the price increase from the original Switch’s $299 (€263.5), analysts believe tariffs have also contributed to the higher cost.
Nintendo is counting on the Switch 2 to revitalize hardware sales as demand for the original console slows. In February, the company reduced its full-year sales forecast for the Switch to 11 million units, down from an earlier projection of 12.5 million.
With pre-orders now closed, customers will have another opportunity to purchase the Switch 2 on June 5, when it officially hits stores.
Business
Alphabet Stock Surges After Strong Earnings Driven by Google Search and Cloud Growth

Shares of Alphabet Inc. soared nearly 5% in after-hours trading Thursday following a strong first-quarter earnings report that beat Wall Street expectations. The tech giant, parent company of Google and YouTube, saw robust growth in its core Google Search advertising business, while Google Cloud recorded a sharp increase in profitability, bolstering investor confidence.
Alphabet reported total revenue of $90.2 billion, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year and surpassing analysts’ forecasts of $89.12 billion. Search advertising remained the company’s largest revenue contributor, bringing in $50.7 billion—a 9.8% year-on-year rise.
Google Cloud, the company’s fastest-growing segment, posted $12.3 billion in revenue, up 28% from a year earlier. While the figure came in slightly below market expectations, operating income more than tripled to $2.18 billion, signaling that Alphabet’s substantial investment in AI infrastructure and cloud technologies is paying off. Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi noted that demand for cloud services continues to exceed available data center capacity, prompting plans for $75 billion in capital expenditures this year.
CEO Sundar Pichai credited the results to Alphabet’s integrated AI strategy. “We’re pleased with our strong Q1 results, which reflect healthy growth and momentum across the business,” he said in a statement. “Underpinning this growth is our unique full stack approach to AI.”
Alphabet also announced a $70 billion share buyback plan and a 5% dividend hike, lifting its quarterly dividend to $0.21 per share. Despite Thursday’s gains, Alphabet’s stock remains down 16% for the year, impacted by broader tech-sector selloffs linked to tariff concerns.
The company warned that recent changes in U.S. trade policy could impact future advertising revenue. In particular, the end of the de minimis trade exemption—set to take effect May 2—may lead to decreased ad spending by Asia-Pacific retailers, especially Chinese platforms like Temu and Shein.
YouTube, another major revenue stream, posted $8.93 billion in advertising revenue, up 10% from last year, supported by growth in YouTube TV and podcast offerings. Meanwhile, Alphabet’s self-driving car unit, Waymo, generated $450 million in revenue, down 9% and continuing to operate at a loss.
Despite some headwinds, the results underscore Alphabet’s resilience and ongoing transformation into an AI-driven tech powerhouse.
Business
EV Boom Powers EU Auto Market Amid Broader Industry Challenges

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in the European Union surged in the first quarter of 2025, helping offset broader weakness in the automotive sector amid ongoing global trade tensions and economic uncertainty, according to data released by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
Between January and March, EV sales rose by 23.9% year-on-year, totaling 412,997 units across the EU. The battery electric vehicle (BEV) market share edged up slightly to 15.2%, compared to 15% at the start of the year.
Three of the bloc’s four largest auto markets—Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands—led the electric surge. Germany posted a significant 38.9% jump in EV sales, while Belgium saw a 29.9% rise and the Netherlands recorded a 7.9% increase. France, however, bucked the trend with a 6.6% decline in EV sales.
Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) also performed strongly, with sales increasing by 20.7% to reach 964,108 units in the first quarter. France led this segment with a 47.5% spike in registrations, while Spain, Italy, and Germany also reported double-digit growth. HEVs now represent 35.5% of the EU’s car market.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) saw modest growth of 1.1%, buoyed primarily by rising demand in Germany and Spain.
Despite the green energy gains, the overall EU car market experienced a slight setback. New car registrations across the EU declined by 1.9% year-on-year in Q1, with March showing a marginal 0.2% dip. ACEA attributed the slowdown to ongoing global economic pressures and trade-related disruptions affecting supply chains and market confidence.
Traditional fuel segments continued their downward trajectory. Petrol car registrations dropped 20.6% compared to the same period in 2024, with France experiencing the steepest decline at 34.1%. Diesel vehicle registrations plummeted 27.1% across the EU.
Among automakers, Volkswagen Group recorded a 4.8% increase in EU registrations, buoyed by strong demand for its Cupra models. Renault Group also performed well, with a 9.5% rise in registrations. Meanwhile, BMW posted marginal growth of 0.4%, while Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis saw declines of 6.2% and 14%, respectively.
China’s SAIC Motor emerged as a major winner, posting a 52.3% jump in registrations—reflecting growing consumer interest in Chinese EV brands. In contrast, Tesla saw EU registrations plunge by 45% in the first quarter, marking a significant setback for the U.S. electric carmaker in the European market.
Despite the mixed results, the surge in EV and hybrid sales highlights a clear shift in consumer preferences and signals a pivotal moment for Europe’s car industry as it accelerates toward electrification.
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