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 Competition Council has authorised the transaction through which Pavăl Holding intends to acquire the Carrefour group in Romania.
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.
Christian Tour debuted on the BVB on 22 June, trading under the ticker symbol TRIP. The listing follows an IPO valued at RON 149 million (€28.4 million), with a 121% subscription rate. It is the first company from the organised tourism sector to debut on the local capital market.
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.