Finance | 4 March, 2025 at 11:26 AM
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.
Romanians are preparing for a holiday season with higher budgets compared to last year. According to a study by Raiffeisen Bank in partnership with Appinio, 65% of respondents expect higher Christmas spending in 2025, while approximately one in four Romanians (26%) estimate similar costs to 2024.
Romanian businesses continue to face financial difficulties, with insolvency cases reaching 985 in November 2025.
The three-month ROBOR index, used to calculate the cost of consumer loans in lei with variable interest rates, fell to 6.21% per annum on Wednesday.
Industrial production prices (domestic and external markets) increased by 8% in October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to data published by Romania's National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Fepra has inaugurated new PET and glass recycling units in Brad, marking a significant step for the municipality and Romania's recycling infrastructure.