Chart of the week: The Fed continues with rate cuts
Soaring oil prices, solid job growth, and a seemingly unhurried Powell have forced markets to significantly scale back expectations regarding Federal Reserve rate cuts. However, Powell and his colleagues will be in for a lot of trouble if they don’t cut rates at each of the upcoming meetings.
Investing in transition?
The regulations surrounding the European sustainable finance package seem to have entered somewhat calmer waters for now. Nevertheless, the topic of transition financing and transition investing remains relevant, especially as there is a need for clear frameworks and definitions.
Longeval's view: CBDCs threaten western democracy
Investment Officer, once in a while, has a conversation with investment expert Jan Longeval to discuss his views on economic and financial developments. This time, he warns about the risks of Central Bank Digital Currencies, or CBDCs.
Chart of the Week: The ECB will sleep soundly
Inflation in the Eurozone has fallen to 1.8 percent. This marks the first time since June 2021 that inflation in September dropped below the ECB’s target of 2 percent. Despite many experts claiming that the central bank interest rate can’t be lowered much this time, the ECB now has plenty of reasons with this latest inflation figure to significantly cut interest rates.
The WFH Struggle of Benny Bürocratie
Benny Bürocratie is exasperated as his wife drops him off at the Trier bus station. His daughter has been rehearsing for months for today’s school play. Fortunately, his wife can attend and record the event, but Benny has to be in the office.
Gold soars, but who cares?
It can hardly have escaped your notice: gold is hot! The gold price is currently breaking record after record, and even the ‘mainstream’ financial media can no longer ignore the yellow metal. But when I read these stories, they mostly raise a lot of questions for me. Are traditional investors really that naive now, or are they deliberately looking the other way?
Lagarde unintentionally reveals a glimpse behind the ECB-scene
Naturally, the interest rate decision and everything surrounding it took centre stage earlier this month when the European Central Bank (ECB) board met in Frankfurt. And of course, questions during the press conference focused on what we can expect in the coming quarters. Like many others, I was tuned in, eager for insights.
China, a copy of the United States
Many investors mistakenly conclude that China and the United States are completely different due to their distinct financial (and societal) systems. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Both nations’ faltering economic engines are kept running by the same remedy: debt.
Choosing Luxembourg over commuting
Gregory Kennedy reflects on cross-border commuting in Luxembourg, where once attractive border towns now face eroding quality of life.
Madness
Former ECB president and prime minister of Italy, Mario Draghi, has written a report containing the obvious yet completely unnecessary conclusion that Europe has completely missed the boat on innovation and competitiveness. ‘Duh!’