A scorching performance from Spanish stock market

Looking for a hot market? So far this year, the place to start is Madrid. After three years of savage declines in stock prices, it is rare to see a market heading for an annual gain. Since the start of the year to 16 April, the Spanish Ibex 35 Index was up almost 9%, making it one of the few major indexes in Europe in positive territory. Nor is the bull's presence in Spain restricted to big companies. The broader Madrid Stock Exchange General Index is up 7% this year. True, the numbers are modest. They may reverse themselves later this year. Still, compared with their peers in other c...