The semiconductor industry is considered one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom. Investors therefore kept a close eye on the sector’s figures for the first three months of 2025. One thing became clear: the expansion of AI infrastructure continues to deliver good results for most chip companies â but the sword of Damocles in the form of impending US tariffs is still hanging over industry giants such as Nvidia & Co. Read more in today’s blog post.
All articles on the topic âMarkets and opinionsâ
Vienna Stock Exchange turns 250
Yesterday, the Vienna Stock Exchange celebrated its 250th birthday. The âWiener BĂśrseâ was founded by Empress Maria Theresa on 2 September, 1771, making it one of the oldest stock exchanges in the world. Erste Group has a long-running and close partnership with the Vienna Stock Exchange, an institution both rich in tradition and very much focused on the future.

Global economy running into headwind
The global economy is in the recovery phase of the cycle. Economic growth is well above the long-term trend, but headwinds have increased recently. What needs to happen to ensure that growth does not slow down? Chief Economist Gerhard Winzer analyses the prospects for the future.

Tourism Industry on the Path to Recovery in Summer, but Pre-Crisis Level Still a Long Way Off
The travel and tourism industry is continuing its recovery. The number of overnight stays increased noticeably in what is now the second Corona pandemic summer, and travel figures paint a similar picture. However, pre-Corona pandemic levels are still a long way off, and the recent strong spread of the delta variant of the virus is also an uncertainty factor.
Commodities in strong demand
Whether you want to buy a house or buy a car, many private consumers currently deal with soaring prices for materials and unpleasantly long delivery periods. This situation is directly reflected in commodity prices.
Bond markets between strengthening economy and high liquidity
Bond funds are not always the âfirst choiceâ right now. The strong profits of listed companies and the orderly dividend payouts are currently outpacing interest income. If you are looking at performance, you have to look closely. Interview with Wolfgang Zemanek, Head of Bond Funds, Initial Asset Management.
Germanyâs economy recovering from slump
Germanyâs economy is back on a growth path after the pandemic dip at the beginning of the year. While service providers and retailers benefit from the relaxation of the Corona measures, the industry is being held back by material shortages and supply bottlenecks. How does the German stock index (DAX) react?
How many chips are installed in a car?
Car manufacturers are under pressure to meet the sharply increased demand for new cars. Many production lines were closed in the lockdowns. This is why individual parts are only now being re-produced and there are supply bottlenecks. What do microchips have to do with this and why are used cars so expensive in the US?

Sustainability-linked bonds â an alternative to green bonds?
Green bonds are securities that are allocated to specific energy and environmental projects and are intended to contribute to a climate-friendly transformation of the economy. According to a study by the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), they reached a record level of $269. 5 billion in 2020. Sustainability-Linked Bonds represent a voluntary commitment for issuers. How exactly they work is explained in our analysis.

Bezos, Branson and Musk launch the age of commercial space tourism
With their flights into space in July 2021, multi-billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson launched the era of commercial space tourism. Whether space travel can become a lucrative business remains to be seen.
ERSTE GREEN INVESTâs one-year anniversary: megatrend green technologies
The subjects of environment and technology have been occupied by brokers for years. This sector also has great growth potential in the coming years. Many companies are only at the beginning of a promising development.
ESG bonds made in the USA
ESG bonds are currently on the rise and are becoming an increasingly important part of corporate bonds. According to BofA Securities, 13. 5% of all new issues with ESG criteria were already issued globally in the first half of 2021. This trend is well established in Europe and is also increasing in the USA, as the following analysis shows.
Erste Asset Management financial markets outlook for the second half of 2021
Since the beginning of the year, the rapid recovery of the economy has mainly supported securities such as equities. But what happens next? Erste AM Managing Director Heinz Bednar and Head of Multi Asset Alexander Lechner explain how the second half of 2021 and especially our focus on sustainability will continue to develop in our outlook for the next six months.
Is this the end of the reflation trade?
Inflation peaked in the US and the eurozone in May and has declined from there. Long term yields fell and lowered real yields. How could this happen?
Oil prices climb to multi-year highs after OPEC negotiations fail
The rise in oil and energy prices is fueling concerns about a burgeoning inflation. Behind the failure of the latest OPEC negotiations is also a political competition for influence and power in the Gulf region.
Falling economic momentum is not bad news
One of the most important economic indicators, the global purchasing managers index for the manufacturing sector, fell in June compared to the previous month. Is that bad news for risky asset classes like stocks? Our chief economist Gerhard Winzer analyzes the most important scenarios.
5 years after the Brexit referendum: UK on the path to recovery in turbulent times
These days mark the 5th anniversary of the British vote to leave the European Union. How does the UK stand economically after the “Brexit”? What challenges still lie ahead for the country? What opportunities do investors have? Read more in today’s blog.
The Fed is a dove
Equities have been weaker in recent days. This is largely due to concerns that sooner-than-expected interest rate increases in the USA could be detrimental to the financial market. Chief economist Gerhard Winzer explains why in the most likely case scenario, this will not be happening in the foreseeable future.

G7 countries agree climate targets, vaccination programmes and China policy
With renewed vigour, the heads of state of the G7 group of leading industrialised nations recently agreed climate targets, vaccination programmes for poor countries and a common front against China at their eponymous summit, held in the British resort of Carbis Bay.
China bonds in demand for mixed funds
China as a third pole. The reasons why fund managers expect China government bonds in mixed funds to generate more return and at the same time provide better diversification.
Covid vaccinations: Apathy follows euphoria
If you ask around in your own circle of acquaintances, you will find that the vaccination coverage rate is now significant. In Austria, it seems, everyone who really wants a vaccination has already received at least a partial vaccination – regardless of prioritization, age or medical history. The EU vaccination rate lags about 6 weeks […]
Equities and the inflation scare
The strong economic recovery and positive corporate results are fueling concerns about the emergence of inflation. But are these fears justified? Erste Asset Management equity expert Tamas Menyhart analyzes the situation on the stock exchanges and shows ways of guarding against inflation.
Rapid recovery in the developed world
The global economy is caught between a strong recovery and inflation fears. Despite low risk premiums, Erste AM Chief Economist Gerhard Winzer continues to see opportunities for equities as long as bond yields rise less than corporate earnings growth rates. Read more in his blog analysis.
Financial Markets: robo investment vs. human judgment
It is impossible not to notice the rising interest in algorithm-based investing. Fund manager MikulĂĄĹĄ SplĂtek argues the case of whether a robo-advisor or human judgment is better to beat the market.
Sell in May and âŚ
.. go away, but don’t forget to come back in September. This is an old stock market adage that most investors probably know. There are loads of those, and this is among the most popular ones. Our Head of Global Strategies & Research, Alexander Sikora-Sickl explains what’s behind it.
Banks, IT companies and car manufacturers report profit gains in Q1
The reporting season is drawing to a close. Most of the companies listed on the stock exchange exceeded analysts’ estimates. The outlook for the future is also optimistic.

Sustainable income with âdouble dividendsâ
Comfortably making return on the money market via interest? A thing of the past. Investors wanting to outsmart inflation should think about dividends and dividend shares. The combination of dividend shares with a selection process that takes into account ESG criteria constitutes an interesting investment alternative. So there is a kind of âtwo dividendsâ.

Global semiconductor shortage continues to pose challenge for automotive and electronics sectors
The global shortage of semiconductors is causing problems for car manufacturers and the computer industry. Trends such as the digitalisation of working life or autonomous driving are likely to increase demand even more. Technology shares are in demand.
Social impact via engagement
Impact investment More and more investors want to invest their money responsibly and sustainably â not only to create additional inflows, but also to create an âimpactâ. As a result, the demand for so-called impact funds has increased substantially in recent years. Especially young people, who until very recently had little interest in investment funds, […]
How are global equity markets doing?
The global stock markets got off to a strong start into the new year and continued to gain, which means that the bull market has now lasted for almost a year. However, the market structure has changed significantly in the past few months. Our equity expert TamĂĄs Menyhart analyzes the current situation.
Are dividend shares âinâ or âoutâ?
Dividend shares have been sidelined by investors in recent years. At the moment, however, their valuation is significantly more attractive than that of the Growth segment, making them worth a serious consideration.
New turbulences in Turkey
Erste Asset Management fund manager Anton Hauser, specialist for emerging markets bonds, analyses the status quo of the Turkish financial markets after the surprising dismissal of the Turkish central bank governor by President Erdogan.
What does the term “SPAC” mean?
A differently designed path to the stock exchange has gained in importance since 2020. The term for this is SPAC (“Special Purpose Acquisition Company”). What’s behind it?

US and Europe restarting joint efforts in fight against climate change
The USA and the EU are back on the same page as new President Joe Biden takes office. The new US climate envoy John Kerry, on his first visit to Brussels in this role, underlined the importance of the renewed climate alliance with Europe. âWe are committed to renewing our strong alliance in the fight against the climate crisis,â the former US Secretary of State said in a joint statement with EU representatives last Wednesday.
Yield curve management
In recent days, equities and other risky asset classes have come under pressure despite the fact that in the year to date the optimism about an economic recovery has been on the rise. Is that a case of âbuy the rumour, sell the factâ? Had the good news already been priced into the market? Or is there another mechanism that could be driving the future development?

Emerging Markets corporate bonds: sustainability turns into a factor of success for investments
Corporate bonds from emerging markets: environmental focus and calling out companies on their sustainability efforts are turning into a success factor. Senior professional fund manager PĂŠter Varga explains the latest trends and developments.
Hopes for upswing continue to drive oil and industrial metal prices higher
Hopes for an economic recovery, but also the latest inflation fears, have recently fuelled the price rally on the commodity markets, with prices for crude oil and industrial metals continuing to soar. Several metal prices recently rose to multi-year highs.

How are stock markets currently reacting to increases in yields?
Central bank targets for inflation may be met earlier than expected in some countries. This environment has led to an increase in government bond yields. We explain how it came about.
China 2021 â the year of the ox
2021 is the year of the ox, which is associated with strength, harvests and fertility. After the turbulent year 2020, there are good reasons to look forward to returning to normalcy and development in the year of the ox. This is particularly true for China.
EU Commission lowers growth forecasts for 2021, but is more optimistic for 2022
In view of the still rampant Corona pandemic, the EU Commission has recently lowered its growth forecasts for 2021. With the delays in some EU countriesâ vaccination programmes, the lockdowns could also drag on, delaying the expected economic recovery, the Commission argues.
âEnvironmentally friendly technologies will be growing for yearsâ
Technologies â and, in particular, environmentally friendly ones â were THE big narrative on the stock exchanges last year. The upward trend of these companies continues in view of the clear political cues. Interview with Clemens Klein, Senior Professional Fund Manager.

GameStop – what is a short squeeze?
The stock of the computer game seller GameStop has become synonymous with the trial of strength between retail investors and large hedge funds. Head of Global Strategies & Research Alexander Sikora-Sickl explains the situation and the term short squeeze
What is behind the skyrocketing performance of Bitcoin?
Bitcoin has achieved an average performance of 142% p.a. in the past five years. Some criticise the high level of volatility but forget about the potential. Many wonder whether, after the dramatic increase, one could still enter the market or whether that ship has sailed. In the following article Crypto Asset Specialist Harald Egger discusses the reasons that have led to the rally of Bitcoin in recent months.
US earnings season gets off to a positive start, Netflix with record figures
On the world’s stock exchanges, earnings season in the USA is being followed with great interest. During this period, almost all major listed US companies report on their past financial quarter and give an outlook for the coming year.
USA: Clear sailing for Joe Bidenâs economic programme after winning Senate majority
After the Democratsâ success in the Senate run-off elections in the US State of Georgia, the party now has the de-facto majority in both chambers of Congress, and therefore US President-elect Joe Biden should soon have much more leeway for implementing his economic policy programmes.
Covid Vaccines – From Race to Chase
Covid vaccine distribution has begun in much of the developed world. Politicians, commentators and citizens criticize the slow start to immunizations. But like the Tour de France: What counts is not who wears the yellow jersey during the first stage, but who crosses the finish line first at the end. Three factors are crucial to that: vaccine supply, vaccine distribution and, most importantly, vaccination acceptance.

The best funds of 2020
A turbulent year at the stock exchange has come to a conciliatory end. Those who were invested in funds in 2020 were able to achieve increases in value despite the pandemic and lockdown. Read more about the best funds of 2020 in today’s blog.

ECB and European Parliament get crisis programmes for 2021 on track
As the year 2020 comes to a close, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Parliament have put their respective programmes for the fight against the crisis on track for next year. The MEPs recently approved the approximately EUR 1.1tn Community budget for the next seven years, which includes EUR 750bn in Corona aid.
Erste Asset Management regards economic recovery as driver of the capital markets in 2021
We are looking back on a turbulent investment year. After the slump in February and March, we saw a strong recovery on the markets almost across all asset classes. CEO Heinz Bednar and CIO Gerold Permoser give an outlook for the capital markets in 2021.
OPEC+ haggling over production restrictions at ongoing meeting
The eyes of the international business world are currently fixed on Vienna. At the OPEC headquarters in downtown Vienna, the oil cartelâs member states and its allies are currently haggling over production volumes, and thus the further development of oil prices, via video conference.

The free trade agreement RCEP â A historic milestone
At a time when Covid-19 is ravaging the global economy, 15 Asia-Pacific countries signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) at a virtual Summit on November 15. The RCEP is a meaningful achievement for regional cooperation and a historic milestone in the globalization process.