The latest escalation involving Iran has shifted markets away from “pure macro” indicators—rates, inflation and growth—and back toward geopolitics as a primary driver, according to an analysis by Freedom24.
Freedom24, the European broker connecting retail investors to international exchanges, expanded its Romanian client base by 9% to over 4,300 investors in 2025.
Romanian investors have a strong interest in technology, AI, and cryptocurrency, alongside a strategic allocation to broad-market ETFs and high-yield bonds.
After two years of significant growth (20%+ in 2023 and 2024), the S&P 500's returns are likely to "normalize," with a forecasted rise of 11% to 17% from current levels.
Freedom24 is the European subsidiary of the NASDAQ-listed Freedom Holding Corp, an international investment group with expertise in the USA, Europe and Central Asia.
Eleven programmes financed through the second Swiss Contribution, with a total value of around CHF 221.5 million (€240 million), are now in implementation in Romania.
OMV Petrom concluded a sales contract with OMV Downstream GmbH, a fully owned subsidiary of OMV AG, for part of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) to be produced at the Petrobrazi refinery.