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.

The Confidex index has dropped from 51.3 to 47.2 compared to the previous edition, marking the largest decrease since the study's launch with nearly 7 percentage points, returning to a level comparable to H1 2021.
Enterprises across Europe and the Middle East have moved from AI pilots to scaled implementations, with nearly half of AI proof-of-concepts already in production.
In 2024, the average price of 1 hectare of arable land in the EU reached €15,224, reflecting a 6.1% increase from the previous year.
Penny continues its national network expansion with the opening of a new store in Bacău. With this opening, the Penny network reaches 462 units nationwide.
VC fund GapMinder has led a €1.5 million investment round in Croatian startup InsiderCx, an AI-powered patient feedback platform that helps healthcare providers collect actionable insights and improve patient experience.