Christine Lagarde has always remained a politician
Faithful readers of this column know that I am deeply concerned about the politicization of the European Central Bank (ECB). Lessons from monetary history and piles of academic research support that concern: we simply know that a central bank that listens to what politicians want is bad news for inflation in the medium term.
Investors underestimate risk capacity Yale finds
For decades, investors have been told to balance risk with a simple formula: the 60/40 split between stocks and bonds. New research from Yale argues that approach is fundamentally flawed, leaving many savers too conservatively positioned to maximise long-term wealth.
‘Health care can regain its role as a safe haven’
The health care sector continues to lag behind the broader equity market, but according to sector analysts, investor pessimism is overdone. Innovation, improving earnings growth, and declining political risks could give the sector renewed momentum in the coming years.
European investors ‘are misreading the cycle’
European investors are approaching the current crisis using analytical frameworks from previous crises. According to chief strategist Mabrouk Cherouane of Natixis Investment Managers, this reflex leads to misinterpretations that directly affect asset allocation.
Neobrokers and neobanks are putting pressure on wealth management margins
Neobrokers and digital banks are advancing into wealth management and are putting further pressure on margins in the sector. Firms must choose between scale or differentiation to avoid ending up in a so-called “Valley of Death.”
The carbon premium that never existed
Imagine this: you predict stock returns for January 2026 using company data from all of 2026. Data that only becomes available during that year (or even afterward). Sounds absurd? Yet this is exactly the methodological foundation of one of the most cited findings in climate finance: the carbon premium.
How data is reshaping infrastructure
Infrastructure is shifting because the data coming from real systems is changing. What was once
a purely physical asset class is now shaped by information that is not immediately visible.
Shipping slows as fuel costs surge, credit strain spreads
Global shipping is slowing as surging fuel costs and mounting risks in the Persian Gulf begin to strain the industry’s finances, forcing companies to cut speeds, seek emergency credit and rethink whether voyages are still viable.
Morningstar: Blackrock versus MFS IM in global small- and mid-cap equity
A strong start to the year for smallcaps does not guarantee outperformance in 2026.
Alternatives form cornerstone of BNP Paribas AM growth strategy
BNP Paribas Asset Management expects its alternatives division to grow by 5 to 6 percent annually and to consolidate its leading position in Europe. The asset manager said it is barely affected by the negative sentiment surrounding private credit.