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.

AI is creating two distinct directions in the global labour market, according to PwC research, based on an analysis of over one billion job listings across six continents.
FintechOS, the financial technology company founded in Romania that provides AI-based digitalisation solutions for banks and insurers, has reached profitability on the back of a 40% rise in recurring revenue at the end of Q1, company representatives said.
Romania is entering a new stage, with its multiannual economic recovery programme launching in 2026, carrying an estimated budget of around €5 billion through 2032 and a dedicated framework for anchor-type strategic investments above €200 million, according to experts at EY Romania.
Romania has reached 31 da Vinci robotic surgery programs nationwide, of which 8 are in the public healthcare system. The most recent system, installed at Fundeni Clinical Institute, marks the expansion of robotic surgery in Romanian public hospitals and the regional milestone of 100 da Vinci systems across the SOFMEDICA region: Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Cyprus, Croatia and Slovenia.
OMV Petrom, an integrated energy producer in Southeast Europe, has made the final investment decision for Gabare, an integrated solar energy and battery storage project in Bulgaria.