Investing

US equities have calmed after a turbulent start to the year, but the mood is far from euphoric. With President Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs set to be announced on Sunday, it remains uncertain whether the recent gains mark the beginning of a recovery or simply a pause before the next downturn.

The German Bundestag’s decision to boost defense spending through debt issuance triggered a correction in European defense stocks. Investors are taking profits on high valuations as questions arise about whether they are still justifiable.

European banks are in solid financial shape, and interest income is exceeding expectations. Still, bank analysts are raising eyebrows at the sector’s sharp rally.

The probability of a U.S. recession is rising, but it is not yet the base case for markets, former Pimco chief executive Mohamed El-Erian told Investment Officer. While the economy is slowing, it has not yet reached “stall speed,” and unless a full-blown downturn materializes, bond yields are unlikely to fall significantly.

Institutional investors in the Benelux region plan to allocate more capital to private markets this year.

Stock prices in the healthcare sector are on the rise. Innovation is driving growth, and investors appreciate the defensive qualities of the sector, experts say.

Emerging markets may finally be ready to retake the spotlight as investors are taking a fresh look at opportunities beyond Wall Street.

The range of active ETFs in Europe is growing rapidly and Robeco is also investing heavily in the development of this asset class. The Rotterdam-based fund house brought in Nick King from Fidelity to roll out its ETF strategy, resulting in the launch of four equity ETFs last autumn. In 2025, the focus will be on bonds.

European exchange-traded fund (ETF) assets could more than double to exceed 4,000 billion dollars by 2029, according to a new projection by PwC.

The import tariff proposed by Donald Trump on goods from the EU may inject some volatility into European stock markets, but investors in European equities remain largely unconcerned.