Als de euro valt
Sinds de herverkiezing van Trump als president van de Verenigde Staten staat de wereld op scherp. Geopolitieke spanningen domineren de beurzen en de rol van de dollar staat opnieuw ter discussie. Toch heb ik moeite om dat te vertalen naar de gedachte dat dit hét moment is voor de euro om uit de voetsporen van de greenback te treden. Daarvoor zijn er te veel losse eindjes.
Japan: from lost decades to profitable reflation
The election result in Japan was historic. For the first time since World War II, one party secured a two-thirds majority in parliament. Prime Minister Takaichi can now implement her plans without the compromises that have so often paralyzed Japanese politics. The stock markets responded positively: prices rose and records were broken. This is the first effect of the coming reflation on Japan’s financial markets.
Chart of the week: Olympic mindset
Here in Milan, during the Olympic Games, only one thing matters: winning. In geopolitics, the battle for victory has now been pushed to an unprecedented level. But whether we in rustic Europe are truly aware of that, I wonder.
Are robo advisors becoming Skynet?
Robo advisory platforms have quietly moved from novelty to infrastructure. What began as simple ETF portfolios is evolving into something far more powerful: discreet, algorithm-driven portfolios built at the individual investor level, often embedded inside universal banks that already control distribution, data, and trust.
The great bitcoin illusion
America has the most crypto-friendly president ever. Donald Trump has created a bitcoin reserve for the government. He has released crypto criminals. Americans can now include crypto in their pensions. And he halted Biden’s strict crypto policy. If bitcoin cannot rise now, when can it?
Chart of the week: inflation concerns, unfiltered
With a new Fed chair on the way, subject to approval by the U.S. Senate, it seemed like a good moment to take another look at “inflation.” And especially at inflation expectations, because they largely determine the behavior of consumers and investors alike. What I see is far from reassuring.
Why the Fed is special and why Warsh’s appointment matters
The appointment of Kevin Warsh as the new chair of the Federal Reserve was met with relief by markets worldwide. Gold crashed 9 percent, silver 28 percent. It was not only American investors who reacted. The whole world was watching. And that is exactly the point.
Luxembourg, the Singapore of Europe? Or the other way around?
The comparison is increasingly common. Luxembourg is often described as the Singapore of Europe. It is meant as praise, and rightly so. But the comparison deserves refinement, because it cuts both ways.
The Fed after Powell: Warsh and the productivity revolution
Jerome Powell is stepping down as chair of the Federal Reserve. Kevin Warsh will succeed him. For investors, the big question is whether US central bank policy will really change. The short answer: yes, possibly. And the reason is AI.
Chart of the week: choosing between two evils has never been easier
Almost daily, I find myself amazed at how people simply refuse to see certain things. On the street, in politics, but also in the financial markets.