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.
OMV Petrom, an integrated energy producer in South-Eastern Europe, commissioned a new aromatics unit at Petrobrazi, following an investment of around €140 million. The unit has a capacity of 150,000 tons per year of toluene and benzene, improving the refinery's production mix and energy efficiency while reducing environmental impact.
Romanian construction company Concelex recorded revenues of RON 1.48 billion (€296 million) in 2025, representing a 17 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Polytrade Global, a Romanian group specialising in energy infrastructure, the supply of electrical equipment, and renewable energy projects, closed 2025 with a turnover of around €21.5 million, a 173% increase on the previous year, and a net profit of €579,000.
NextPower, a provider of solar and power technology solutions for utility-scale power plants, has launched new solar tracker and foundation technologies designed to simplify installation, increase site flexibility and support the performance of solar projects.
Holcim has completed the acquisition of Xella, a European walling business with projected 2026 net sales of €1 billion. The acquisition expands Holcim's building solutions portfolio with brands for both new build and the energy-efficient repair and refurbishment market.