William De Vijlder’s reading recommendations on Europe: ‘After analysis, it’s time for action’
Although no progress has been made this year towards a European Capital Markets Union, William De Vijlder, former Chief Economist at BNP Paribas, remains cautiously optimistic about building a stronger financial Europe. According to him, four groundbreaking reports from the past year point the way forward.
Midway through the Twenties
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.
Most read articles for 2024: Here is our top 10
Here are the ten most read articles on Investment Officer Luxembourg for 2024.
William De Vijlder reflects on 40 years of economic waves: ‘We quickly forget turbulent times’
William De Vijlder (64) retired this autumn as the chief economist of BNP Paribas. In a farewell interview, he reflects on four decades of economic analysis. ‘Everything is even more interconnected than I once thought, which makes it incredibly fascinating.’
Chart of the week: The average return does not exist
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.
Investors face a tightrope walk in 2025, warns AXA IM
European investors are heading into 2025 with a stark warning: tread carefully. Analysts at Axa Investment Managers (Axa IM) have painted a picture of fragile markets, wavering economies, and thin margins for mistakes.
Universal Investment: Preparing for Dora’s contract challenges
With the Digital Operational Resilience Act deadline looming, Martin Groos explains how financial firms and ICT providers must urgently adapt contracts.
Room for more optimism
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.
Derailing of Basel III sends investors back to U.S. banks
Donald Trump’s re-election has derailed the proposed stricter Basel III regulations for banks, threatening their implementation for both U.S. and European institutions.
Chart of the week: China’s broken growth model
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.