“The Great Transformation”: This was this year’s Forum Alpbach’s overarching motto for the talks and panel discussions among the assembled top politicians, economic leaders and scientists from around the world. Partly on-site and partly online, between 18 August and 3 September a total of 4,134 participants from 62 countries discussed possible ways out of the corona pandemic crisis and global future scenarios.
Yesterday, the Vienna Stock Exchange celebrated its 250th birthday. The “Wiener Börse” 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.
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.
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.
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.
Many of our decisions are unconsciously shaped by prejudices, role models and stereotypes that prevent diversity and inclusion. Yet diversity is critical to the future of a company. Overcoming unconscious bias is often the first step in recognizing inequalities and the need for action behind them.
In August 2021, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) published a report on global climate change. One of the key messages is that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, land areas and oceans. Heat waves, precipitation and the resulting soil moisture were identified as relevant physical risks.
Bond funds are not always the “first choice” 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.
Twenty years ago, Erste AM launched its first sustainable fund, thus laid the cornerstone for sustainable investments in Austria. Since then, ESG investments (environmental, social, governance) have developed from a niche proposition to the dominant theme. Social aspects are increasingly coming to the fore.
The desire for health is a constant companion in social life. In a developed country with a well-developed health and insurance system, it may be forgotten, but health is a highly unevenly distributed commodity.
