Opinion

Yes, they’re back again. With rising interest rates firmly on investors’ minds worldwide, the doom-mongers are crawling out from under their rocks to once again predict the bursting of the ‘extremely expensive’ tech bubble. But I have my doubts.

The underperformance of European equities compared to U.S. equities reached unprecedented levels in 2024. This divergence has widened the valuation gap between the United States and Europe. While the relative scarcity of tech companies listed in Europe is often cited as a reason, other explanations also account for this undervaluation.

Are EU regulations making investing bland? Gregory Kennedy explores the balance between safety and innovation, and why investors crave flavourful returns.

Scarce assets such as gold and bitcoin were among the best-performing investment categories of the past year. Yet, they received barely any attention in the endless series of (dull) outlooks from major investment banks and asset managers. Fortunately, there are always exceptions that prove the rule.

Argentina was once one of the wealthiest nations in the world, richer than France or Germany. Much of its prosperity was based on beef exports. Today, however, many Argentinians can no longer afford beef and have turned to chicken as a cheaper alternative.

We find ourselves in the midst of the 2020s—a remarkable moment in time. Much like the “Roaring Twenties” a century ago, we are experiencing both a productivity boom and a free-market surge. This is the only time in the past hundred years that such a conjunction has occurred.

Every year, I look with some amazement at the annual forecasts from the major financial institutions—particularly the expected returns that sit squarely near the long-term average. You can be almost certain these predictions won’t materialize.

These are worrying times. Geopolitically, a new world war seems imminent. The challenges in Europe are so significant that the valuation of European stocks has halved compared to the American markets.

The financial media are buzzing with stories about the impact of Donald Trump as president, questions surrounding the supposedly high valuation of equities, the collapse of Germany, and the meteoric rise in the price of bitcoin. However, these headlines overshadow the troubling developments in the world’s second-largest economy. It’s time to address that imbalance.

How much state is too much state in Luxembourg’s financial sector? Gregory Kennedy explores the fine balance between social welfare, competition, and the role of the state in finance.