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.

Romanian engineering group Simtel Team has commissioned its photovoltaic park in Giurgiu, Romania's largest solar park built on degraded land. The facility has an installed capacity of 52 MWp and an estimated annual production of approximately 73 GWh.
Almost 60% of companies in Romania plan to expand their use of flexible spaces over the next two years to support hybrid working strategies.
CEC Bank continues to support entrepreneurs from rural and agricultural sectors by signing a new guarantee agreement with the Rural Credit Guarantee Fund (FGCR), which allows refinancing of AGRO and RURAL loans.
Family business revenues are projected to reach $29 trillion by 2030, reflecting an 84% increase compared to 2020, according to a Deloitte study. These businesses currently account for 19% of all business revenue globally and represent more than 18,000 entities worldwide.
Romania's real GDP growth is forecast to remain low over the next two years, primarily due to the necessary fiscal consolidation measures that will slow consumption.