Latest Posts
Problem children vs. favourite children in Latin America
Fund Manager Peter Paul Pölzl gives a detailed outlook on the loved ones and problem children among the countries in Latin America. How are China’s economy and Latin America related?
Climate change and other challenges front and center at the WEF
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, topics from business, politics and science were discussed. However, climate protection received the most attention. How is the global economy doing?
And what is the outlook for 2020?
US banks report good and bad developments in the financial sector
The reporting season with the largest US banks started on Wall Street last week. Their results give a good impression of how the previous year went and what trends can be identified for this year.
Russian equities: attractive valuations and high dividend yield
After the strong stock market year 2019, the chances are good for further price gains on the Moscow stock exchange. The extremely low valuation of the shares and the high payout rates make Russian shares one of the most attractive stock market segments. Read more in the interview with ERSTE STOCK RUSSIA fund manager Alexandre Dimitrov.
2019 stock market review
Our 2019 stock market review: for investors around the world, 2019 was by and large a continuation of the previous year: the trade dispute between the US and China and the back and forth over Brexit remained the dominant topics.
Frankincense, myrrh, or gold? Have you found the right Christmas present yet?
The gifts of the three Magi to the new-born Christ Child are well known. Even back then, gold was of high value due to its scarceness and was regarded as a special kind of paying one’s respects to someone. Frankincense and myrrh have since then lost some of their appeal as gifts, but it is […]
Gold: the most sustainable commodity in the world?
Guest commentary by expert Ronald-Peter Stöferle The public is still being fed the narrative of gold being a dirty metal. Gold is considered environmentally reproachable because open-pit mining requires enormous volumes of rock to be moved; and in rare cases, mercury is used in the process. Gold is also regarded as soiled in terms of […]
All that glitters is not gold
To extract gold, copper, nickel, tungsten and other metallic raw materials, entire ecosystems are destroyed. Guest author Georg Scattolin from the WWF, on environmental threats in the extraction of raw materials.
Tiffany as exemplary company in the field of sustainability
The takeover by LVMH raised the media profile of Tiffany last week substantially. Not only financial aspects, but also the sustainability strategy make the company attractive. Tiffany has gone through an impressive development in terms of sustainability. The company has co-financed or implemented numerous projects to facilitate a better and more environmentally friendly production of […]
Gold with traces of rust
Hardly anyone can escape the fascination of gold. But, what is the economic function of gold, and how does it perform socially and environmentally?
Bargains, sales and dividends: Hopeful signs for US retail investors
Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are considered to be the weeks with the highest retail sales. How can investors benefit from the US Christmas business?
Positive bottom line for our funds in 2019
Only a few weeks left and then 2019 is history. Thanks to booming stock exchanges and yet another increase in bond prices. Investors can look back on a pleasing balance sheet.
Demand in the oil market will not lose momentum until 2030
Against the background of the initial public offering of Saudi Aramco, the international energy agency predicts a robust demand for oil by 2025. Thereafter demand-dynamics will decline sharply due to increase in energy-efficient vehicles.
Artificial Intelligence as investment in the future
Artificial intelligence opens up new opportunities to invest. Which developments and companies are most interesting? And how is the best way to do it?
A recovering global economy?
The recovery of the world economy has become more likely: First AM chief economist Gerhard Winzer gives an outlook on whether the trend reversal is done.
FT Nordic Investor Outlook – Agile Investment in Uncertain Markets
The FT Nordic Investor Outlook 2019 was dedicated to the topic „Agile Investment in Uncertain Markets“. High caliber speakers were discussing China, ESG and Brexit.
Equities and funds are gaining popularity
Flexibility and security are still the priorities of Austrian households in investing. However, higher yielding investment forms are becoming increasingly popular.
Turkish economy caught between recovery and conflicts
The Turkish invasion in northern Syria and the conflict surrounding it with the USA put the lira under renewed pressure, raising concerns about the Turkish economy’s recovery.
Changes in mobility
Whereas in previous decades the development in the car industry had almost come to a halt, we have seen momentum picking up in recent years in the development of alternative forms of propulsion in this sector. E-car technology should prevail in the long run – our research partners agree on that. For other technologies such […]
Changes to the investment universe, September 2019 – November 2019
Admitted PowerCell Sweden AB (sector: Electrical Components & Equipment), EAM ESG rating 09/2019 of C; admitted into the investment universe of ERSTE WWF STOCK ENVIRONMENT in September 2019. The company was created as a spin-out from Volvo Group in 2008. PowerCell Sweden AB develops and produces modular and scalable fuel cell stacks and systems. Development […]
Do you feel guilty about driving a car?
Do you feel guilty about driving a car? – What’s this question all about? Whereas the term flygskam (flight shame) has become popular outside of Sweden in recent years, there are far fewer people who feel they need to justify driving a car. It has become routine for booking websites to offer compensation options for […]
Automotive Sector: Engagement and Voting
VW is no longer part of the responsible funds. Reasons for this are the use of cheating software and animal testing.
Automotive sector Facts & Figures
Read more articles from this issue of our ESG letter here. *ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance“ – These are the three broad categories according to which companies are examined in sustainable investment. Legal note: Prognoses are no reliable indicator for future performance.
Mobility of the future: moving the traffic of goods onto the rail track
Currently only a third of transport is by rail. However, in domestic transport (i.e. Austria), 60% is possible, and even 85% in cross-border traffic – a clear signal that should be heeded by rail infrastructure strategies. In addition to a socio-ecological tax reform, a comprehensive turn-around in mobility is a crucial factor in the fight […]
TESLA: no investment in environmental funds
Tesla Inc. is not part of the sustainable investment universe of our environmental fund, ERSTE WWF STOCK ENVIRONMENT, which is also the oldest one of the sustainable range of Erste AM and is subject to strict criteria. The underlying rationale of the fund is to invest in products or technologies with particularly high environmental utility […]
Megatrend environment & clean energy: Leveraging the right kind of companies
Mobility, renewable energy, hydrogen – There are currently many megatrends to save the environment. How can we benefit ?
Just how golden is the Czech economy’s golden age?
Although the current phase of the czech economy is not utterly perfect, it can be called a golden age. What is behind all of this ?
Megatrend healthcare: medical care and costs as challenge
Healthcare has never been so important as it is today. Which changed living and consumption habits will influence our future the most?
No long-term consequences after brief panic in oil market
In the previous week crude oil prices have been the highest since 1991. How is the struggle for stable prices on the oil market going? First AM resource expert Alexander Weiss explains the current situation.
IFA: Smartphone manufacturers pin their hopes on new standard
New smartphones will dominate the international radio exhibition in Berlin until the middle of this week. What does the current market look like & what does that mean for technology stocks?
ARGENTINA CRIES (again) – Status Quo and Quo Vadis
The developments surrounding the election in Argentina & presidential challenger Alberto Fernandez are currently frightening investors. Are we looking at a “default”? Our fund manager Felix Dornaus analyzes the situation.
USA: Inverse yield curve fuels fear of recession
In the US bond market, the yield on two-year government bonds had risen above the yield on ten-year bonds, creating the rare situation of an inverse yield curve. This was last the case in 2007.
Weak growth and risks
The recent confrontation between the USA and China in the areas of trade and currency management triggered temporary losses for risky asset classes such as equities. Are the negative implications of an ongoing USA-China conflict strong enough to set off a decline or even a recession?
Looming hard Brexit pushes Pound further down
The hard brexit is described as the most economically unfavorable outcome. First effects can be seen with the Pound.
The Moon Landing – 50 years on: Are private companies taking over the space industry?
Adjusted for inflation, the moon landing cost far more than USD 100 bn by today’s standards. Nowadays the influence of private companies is skyrocketing. They are not just suppliers, but market leaders for many aspects.
“In 2040, 60% of all new cars will be electric” – Interview with equity fund manager
Equity fund manager Clemens Klein is interviewed about promising new environmental technologies and explains what investing in renewable forms of energy can do to help the environment.
Capital market outlook – expansive central banks fuelling risk appetite among investors
At the beginning of July, important stock market indices reached new all time highs. How will economic growth continue & in which asset classes does Erste Asset Management see the best investment opportunities?
Arguments for a continuation of China’s growth story
Why the trade war with the US does not mean the end of the development story and what speaks for the continuation of China’s growth story.
Meat production: Perspective of a sustainable investor
Sustainable investors and informed customers are essential in order to decrease the negative impact of meat production on the environment.
Outlook for the second half of 2019
Many asset classes recorded significant gains. At the same time, the falling tendency of numerous economic indicators has suggested a slowdown in GDP growth. How do these two go together?
Mobile hen houses and high-tech: the AUGA Group
High water consumption, pollution of soils and destruction: These are just some of the criticisms of conventional agriculture. The AUGA Group shows that it can be done differently!
Revolution on a plate
For many Austrians meat is simply one of them. But the enjoyable change spares both the wallet and the environment. WWF guest author Helene Glatter-Götz gives tips for a sustainable and balanced diet.
Searching for the hair in the (chicken)soup
ESG analysts look beyond traditional key ratios like cash flow and growth rates. They take a closer look and take into account the social and environmental aspects of a company.
Meat as a driver of climate change
Cattle-breeding on a global scale is very harmful to the environment. The usage of water in draught areas is one of the biggest problems. But are substitute products the answer to limiting emissions from meat production?
Pesticides, Animal Feed and Meat Consumption – The Food Revolution
The last article in our dossier on “Meat”: What role do animal feed and pesticides play for the environment and the climate?
The king is dead, long live the king
The king is dead, long live the king. Time for our former Head of SRI Gerold Permoser to draw a summary and write a final ESG review.
Meat consumption and how it is connected to antibiotics in beef (Editorial)
“I just wanted to tell you, your cow Elsa is dead.” An old sketch as an excuse to bring up bad news. What this has to do with meat consumption and antibiotics, you will read in our new post.
Mercosur – EU: Largest free trade zone in the world
After 20 years of negotiation the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur announced the formation of the world’s largest free trade zone. The agreement is controversial.
Fund manager-Interview: Turkey after the victory of the opposition in Istanbul
After the victory of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu in the mayoral elections in Istanbul, hope is spreading. Alexandre Dimitrov, fund manager of ESPA STOCK ISTANBUL, explains Turkey’s chances for an economic turnaround.
Can India step out from under China’s shadow?
India has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world for several years. Can it step out of China’s shadow or will it stay only a contender?