The key interest rate of the European Central Bank (ECB) is currently 2.50 percent. Savings account interest rates are significantly below this key interest rate, and if someone takes out a loan, they usually have to pay significantly more than the key interest rate. The role of the key interest rate and the relevant interest rates are discussed in this article.
In the beginning of July our Investment Committee held its monthly meeting. Despite a largely negative month on the markets, our risk stance has hardly changed relative to the previous month.
Capital markets recorded a positive year of 2017. The performance of the various asset classes was of the textbook variety: the higher the risk, the higher the return.
2017 is drawing to an end, and the bottom line is positive. The outcome is significantly better than we had expected. Since the financial crisis in 2008, the global economy has never expanded more quickly and especially concertedly than in 2017. Also, inflation has surprised on the downside, falling short yet again of the expectations held by central banks and analysts.
Shares (equities) and equity funds – the same or not? Only a small minority of Austrians invest directly or indirectly (via equity funds) in shares. Is it the fear of losses or the lack of knowledge about this asset class that make investors shy away from it?
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