Latest Posts
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.
“Disposable plastic is mostly responsible for plastic waste in the seas”
Interview with Axel Hein, marine expert at WWF Austria.
Company of this edition: Tomra Systems
The Company of the Month is selected due to recent developments and in connection with the topic ”Plastic”.
Plastic planet
79 % of the produced plastic waste are currently spread across the environment or in landfills. More facts about plastic can be found here…
Plastic in our Environment
The world consumes resources more quickly and at larger quantities than our population is growing.
A Brief History of Rubber
Lasting Words: “Everything used to be better. What is plastic today was natural rubber back then,” says Gerold Permoser, CIO and CSIO of Erste AM.
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.
Russia back on growth path prior to the World Cup finals, but no reason for euphoria
At the kick-off for the World Cup finals on 14 June, Russia will move to the public limelight for four weeks. Time for a closer look at the Russian economy and equity market.
30 years of falling interest rates – what is ahead of us?
Let’s start with a trip down memory lane: Do you remember the scenery 30 years ago – on the financial markets, and in our personal lives? The 1980s – many of the older generation are still thinking back to the “good old times”. There were no smartphones and no data kraken. Instead, we had shoulder […]
Is Turkey about to run into a balance of payments crisis?
The Turkish central bank was forced to raise its most important interest rate by 300bps and to re-align its monetary instruments. What are the reasons for this nosedive?
Italy: slipping into a crisis in confidence
The heightened uncertainty over whether Italy will repay its debts and whether it will remain a member of the eurozone has led to a sell-off in securities. Our chief economist Gerhard Winzer gives an overview.
Financial Markets Monitor May: positive opportunities outnumber negative ones
Positive opportunities still outnumber the negative ones on the capital markets – that was the conclusion of our Investment Committee. Our willingness to take risks is still optimistic and also moderately higher than in April.
Rising interest rates in the USA
The sentiment of the financial market participants has deteriorated in the past months, with the losses across numerous asset classes in the year to date seemingly the driving factor. Now we have to ask ourselves: are we at the outset of a new trend, or is this just a case of increased volatility? The general decline in prices has gone in conspicuous tandem with the increase in three important financial market ratios: