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Everything was better in the past!
The Austrian term “Komasaufen“, which refers to the practice of binge drinking, received the “Doublespeak Award” 2007. The award followed significant media coverage and discussion on the alcoholic excesses that young people were engaging in with extremely sweet alcoholic beverages.
Responsible Investment Universe
The definition of the investment universe is the most important step in the construction of a fund.
Certified Erste AM Funds
The Erste AM RESPONSIBLE funds are subject to constant scrutiny with regard to their sustainable quality.
Economic outlook 2019: reasons to remain optimistic
Economic Outlook 2019: There are signs that the world economy will slow down next year. Read here why there are still reasons to be optimistic!
Slovakia: moving towards long-term sustainability?
The engine of the economy in Slovakia is running on a good momentum. In recent years it has been going through a cyclical upswing. Take a look at the drivers, but also consider potential threats going forward.
Brexit agreement ahead of vote in British Parliament
The “divorce agreement” of the British with the EU stands. At the highly anticipated EU Special Summit on Sunday, Britain and the EU agreed on their post-Brexit relations at the end of March 2019. Now only the vote in the British House of Commons is missing. It’s getting tight.
China’s future: long-term growth initiatives and dangerous asymmetries
The People’s Republic of China is one of the winners of globalisation – but the strong economic growth has also created asymmetries within the Chinese economy. Read more about how the “Made in China 2025”-strategy will help and what role the new silk road plays.
European banking overshadowed by Italian banks
The year started strongly for European markets with investors favoring Italian banks and stocks. But then came the budget proposal of the new Italian government, changing the mood abruptly. Read about it in our new blog!
Changes in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index
In 1988, MSCI Emerging Markets Index was launched and consisted of just 10 countries representing less than 1% of world market capitalization. Today the index consists of 24 countries representing 10% of world market capitalization. Read here about the changes expected until June 2020 to one of the most important global emerging markets equities index.
US Congressional election results
The outcome of the US Congressional election on Tuesday has caused some relief in the international financial markets. Read more about it in our blog.
Romania: losing its shine
On January 1st 2019, Romania will assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union: an opportunity to regain its shine as a true growth champion and supporter of European values. But how is the country’s economy doing?
The technology cycle is not over for a while
How does Bernhard Ruttenstorfer, senior fund manager of our technology fund, see the future of technology shares? Find out here.
Financial markets 2018: reasons to be cautiously optimistic
The financial markets have been on the rocks in 2018. Read here why you should still keep a cautiously optimistic stance.
Mixed feelings on the US stock exchanges
After a good start to the US reporting season, the tide on the US stock exchanges turned last week. Find out more in our new blog.
Brazil: fundamentally sound companies despite political uncertainties
In the current environment of global uncertainties in emerging markets due to idiosyncratic events in Turkey and Argentina, the trade conflict between the USA and China and with regard to the presidential election, late September was probably one of the most exciting times to visit Brazil. Find out more in our latest blog entry.
US earnings season in full swing
The US earnings season is back in full swing. The first results for Q3 of 2018 are promising, particularly in the banking sector.
Attractive yields for emerging markets bonds in local currencies
On 17 October 2018, ERSTE BOND LOCAL EMERGING celebrated its 10th anniversary – a perfect time to have a closer look at the asset class “Emerging markets bonds in local currency ”. More in our Blog.
Stirred, not shaken – A first take on last week’s stock market meltdown
Last week, the S&P 500 lost more than 3%, followed by another loss of more than 2% on the next day. Read about the reasons behind this decrease in our new blog!
BCA Investment Conference in Toronto: How to navigate wealth to prosperity in a late stage of the business cycle
Every year the independent investment research provider BCA organizes an outstanding event for investment professionals from all over the world to come together and have a vibrant discussion about recent challenges in financial markets.
Tenth year anniversary: global financial crisis kick off
Ten years ago, the Lehman bankruptcy made huge waves in the stock markets. The after-effects of the financial crisis can still be felt today. More in our blog.
US Federal Reserve with the third interest rate hike this year
The central bankers’ assessments regarding inflation and the labour market are considered important indicators for future interest rate policy. More on our blog.
Information availability and data protection and their impact on society
Interview with Gregor König, Head of Data Protection office Digital providers collect loads of data in the background. They are evaluated/analysed and, more and more often, are used for personalised marketing and/or product/service offers. What is your opinion in this context? Is this beneficial for the user, or is the opposite the case? And what is […]
Financial Markets Monitor September – conclusion: cautiously optimistic
As long as the underlying investor sentiment remains positive and investor confidence does not tilt, we are optimistic about the autumn on the capital markets. Find out more about the outlook for the global financial markets in our new blog.
Back-to-school-season makes summer a second Christmas season for US retailers
US retailers are looking forward to another high-turnover back-to-school-season leading up to the start of the new school year. This time of the year plays an important role in the US and is regarded as the second-strongest sales driver after Christmas season.
Strong USA, weak emerging markets, risk of inflation – is the economic boom drawing to an end?
This blog entry will discuss three scenarios for the coming quarters and the coming year.
The primal fear of “Profiling”
Many people harbour an undefined fear of psychologists. Maybe it is the fear of someone being able to look inside them and know what they are thinking. And, let’s be honest: how many times didn’t you think: “Thank God nobody knows what I am thinking right now”? But that was in the past. Nowadays, Google, Facebook, Amazon et al. know quite well what we are thinking. Apparently even better than we do ourselves or the people close to us.
Big data as a powerful tool – Investment Board
We communicate a great deal on social networks. For example, how nice our breakfast is or even the view from a very tall mountain we just climbed. Unfortunately, social networks operators are much less willing to communicate when it comes to the handling of gained user data.
This is where the term “commitment” comes in – in our new ESG article, we explain what it means.
Pro Big Data – What are we really afraid of in today’s digital world?
Do the Big Data advantages and opportunities outweigh the disadvantages and possible consequences in today´s digital world? Find out more in our blog.
Contra Big Data – When the algorithm knows too much
“If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to be afraid of”. What is at the core of this argument? More on our blog.
Big Data Facts & Figures
Only 0.5% of all accessible data is analyzed and used. More facts about Big Data can be found here.
Engagement – Better handling of user data
Large operators of social networks are decidedly less outspoken when it comes to their use of the data obtained. The companies we contacted did not want to talk about the maintenance of the private sphere nor about data protection. But that was not surprising.
The Physicists
Big Data contains a lot of good, but also a lot of controvery. Just think of social scoring, for example. Your friends, your media consumption, your daily habits, everything you do is recorded, evaluated, and channelled into a rating.
Responsible Investment Universe
The definition of the investment universe is the most important step in the construction of a fund.
Certified Erste AM Funds
The Erste AM RESPONSIBLE funds are subject to constant scrutiny with regard to their sustainable quality.
YIELD RADAR: September 2018
Annualised real global GDP growth amounts to slightly above 3%. The composition of growth is not homogenuous. While the US economy grows strongly, the weakening loan growths puts weight on the economic activity in China. Find out more in the current yield radar.
Germany remains Europe’s driving economic power
Germany is not only the largest, but also one of the strongest economies in the Eurozone and the EU. This is reflected, among other things, in its stable economic growth. In 2017, Germany’s GDP increased by 2.2 per cent compared to the previous year, only slightly less than the total Eurozone growth of 2.4 per cent.
Possible breakthrough in gene technology driving biotechnology share prices
Biotech shares are regarded as highly promising due to the innovative strength of the sector, but they also tend to be subject to drastic price fluctuations both ways. After a long period of consolidation, biotech shares have embarked on a clear upward trend since May 2018. Harald Kober, Senior Fund Manager, explains the reasons for the investors’ optimism.
European equities – still time to get on board?
The performance of European equities in the year to date has been disappointing. While in the USA stock exchanges are going from strength to strength, European share prices have been stagnating. Is it still worth investing in European equities?
Financial Markets Monitor August: We remain optimistic
The month since the previous meeting in July had been a positive one for investors willing to take risks. Thus, the optimistic risk stance of our team paid off. It is therefore not surprising that the team remains optimistic.
2018 set to be a record year for mergers
2018 could be a record year for mergers, at least if the exceptional first half of the year is any indicator. However, it is this development that makes analysts sceptical as to whether and for how long this pace can be maintained. Will this current bout of mergers soon come to an end?
Short-term stabilisation on the financial markets
After several “mini-shocks” throughout the year such as inflationary fears in the USA and a temporary crisis of trust in connection with Italian government bonds, quite a bit of uncertainty has already been priced into the market. Will the current phase, which is characterised by rising share and bond prices and that comes with credit risk be only a short-lived one? Or have the markets generally entered calmer waters?
Austrian stock market 2018: Flattish, with room to surprise on the upside
Over the past three years (2015-2017) the ATX, Austria’s main equity index, posted an annual return of more than 16%, making the Vienna Stock Exchange the best performing European stock market (or second best, if Eastern Europe is included).
Turkish lira – what are the reasons behind the current crisis?
The Turkish lira reflects the difficult situation Turkey is currently in. This year alone, the currency has shed more than 45% of its value to date. Interview update with Anton Hauser, Senior Fund Manager, Eastern Europe bonds.
Russian bonds should see good performance
In this interview Anton Hauser, senior fund manager at Erste Asset Management and expert for Central and East European (CEE) government bonds , talks about the difficult first half of 2018 and illustrates possible future scenarios.
Market view: Increased uncertainty
The performance of most asset classes in the year to date has been mixed, to put it euphemistically. Is there a common underlying factor? Can we expect to see a better second half of the year?
Post-election Turkey – What’s next?
Has the political and economical backdrop improved as result of the election in Turkey? In our newest blog post we’re answering 7 of the most important questions.
A brief history of time.. and markets
In the nineteen-sixties, mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot noticed something that experienced traders had known for long: that time at the stock exchange does not always run the same. Read about the relativity of time here.
Financial Markets Monitor June: a lot going on
An Investment Committee again! A month can pass quickly, especially if there is a lot going on in the markets. In light of recent market events (Italy, Turkey, Argentina), I was surprised that our risk stance has not changed since our last Investment Committee meeting. Obviously, it takes a lot to get us out of […]
Hey Mrs. Robinson
Editorial: Gerold Permoser, CIO and CSIO of Erste Asset Management, comments on the topic of this issue.
The Life of Plastics – Investment Board
The Erste AM Investment Board gives a form to the responsive dialogue with and among sustainability research agencies.