Asset Owner

The concentration risk in equity markets is growing as US megacap technology companies continue to attract capital. Diversification, often seen as the only “free lunch” in investing, risks coming at a cost.

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.

The European Union is preparing its next wave of financial sector reforms, and 2025 could mark a turning point.

Luxembourg’s financial watchdogs are stepping up their scrutiny of terrorist financing amid concerns that the Grand Duchy’s status as an international financial hub makes it vulnerable to abuse by illicit actors.

ESG factors are playing an increasingly diminished role in the investment decisions of institutional parties. For the vast majority, short-term performance takes precedence over the long-term benefits of sustainable investing.

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.

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.

Here are the ten most read articles on Investment Officer Luxembourg for 2024.

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.’

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.