Gold Rush 2.0: Ultimate safe haven in face of geopolitical fragmentation
Gold continues to be a key safe-haven asset resulting in sustained upward pressure on prices.
Gold continues to be a key safe-haven asset resulting in sustained upward pressure on prices.
Only half of the CEE countries saw an increase in turnover among the top 500 companies, revealing disparities in economic performance.
While the US economy looks set for a soft landing, the eurozone continues to face many uncertainties, particularly in the industrial sector.
Despite €3 billion mobilised through the European Battery Alliance created in 2017, only 3% of the investment needed in the battery supply chain has been made.
In the first 6 months of 2024, 68,223 new companies were registered, this being the lowest value in recent semesters, including the first semester of 2019.
Nine countries experienced a higher number of insolvencies, and three countries recorded a decrease (Bulgaria, Croatia and Latvia).
Construction and real estate sectors are among the most cyclical sectors. Sensitive to changes in the labour market, prices and the interest rate, they are currently under strain.

Lidl Romania continues to invest in the country and announces for the financial year 2026 (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027) an expansion plan of over €285 million.
Restaurant technology startup Choice has secured €6.6 million in new funding and is accelerating its expansion across CEE, including Romania, where it entered in 2025.
Israeli developer Econergy Renewable Energy has secured €31 million in project financing from Kommunalkredit for its 60MW Ovidiu solar project in Romania.
Romania's Competition Council is analyzing the transaction through which Pavăl Holding, controlled by the Pavăl brothers, intends to acquire the Carrefour group in Romania.
Romania continues to record the lowest uptake of e-government services in the European Union.