Opinion

Following Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day,” investors are grappling with a fundamental question: Is a trading order possible that is less dependent on the United States? Or are we on the brink of a new Great Depression, as some doomsayers suggest?

In the 1980s, Ronald Reagan became known for his hardline stance against the Soviet Union—a strategy that ultimately contributed to the end of the Cold War. Today, we see Donald Trump adopting a similarly confrontational approach, but this time on the economic battlefield.

This week marked the 22nd edition of the Mining Forum Europe in Zurich. For a long time, it was an insider-only event mainly attended by mining companies, but with the recent surge in the gold price, there was much more room this time for a broader, macro-driven perspective.

“The total value of Dutch securities holdings reached nearly 3,500 billion euros in 2024.” It’s one of those headlines—this one from the Dutch Central Bank (DNB)—that most investors overlook, let alone actually read. But behind that enormous figure lies a world that once again shows how deeply entrenched the traditional investment industry remains in an outdated mantra.

The training landscape of artificial intelligence has taken an unexpected turn—one that challenges classical economic principles. More data leads to better performance, with no signs of saturation.

Since the beginning of this year, the price of copper has risen by over 20 percent. So, Dr. Copper is telling us loud and clear that a recession isn’t coming. Right?

In recent weeks, an old-fashioned “self-fulfilling prophecy” appears to be taking shape. To ensure that the Republicans remain in power in two and four years, it is crucial for Trump to give the economy and markets a blow now.

In Luxembourg—a glorified back office—we all know someone who toils away in fear of financial regulators, mindlessly crunching numbers and churning out reports, yet unable to explain the fund industry’s role in society. And that’s a real shame.

On 10 March 2000, the Nasdaq peaked at 5048.6 points – a moment that no one recognised as such at the time, but which, in retrospect, marked the beginning of a freefall that would wipe out 77 percent of the market’s value. Now, 25 years later, inevitable parallels arise between the dotcom hype and the current AI revolution. But are these comparisons justified?

The markets were already on edge, and there seems to be little sign of that changing any time soon. Geopolitical tensions have reached fever pitch, culminating in an outright shouting match in the Oval Office in Washington. This development could have significant consequences, as Trump currently appears unwilling to provide aid to Ukraine.