Gold Rush 2.0: Ultimate safe haven in face of geopolitical fragmentation
Gold continues to be a key safe-haven asset resulting in sustained upward pressure on prices.
Gold continues to be a key safe-haven asset resulting in sustained upward pressure on prices.
Only half of the CEE countries saw an increase in turnover among the top 500 companies, revealing disparities in economic performance.
While the US economy looks set for a soft landing, the eurozone continues to face many uncertainties, particularly in the industrial sector.
Despite €3 billion mobilised through the European Battery Alliance created in 2017, only 3% of the investment needed in the battery supply chain has been made.
In the first 6 months of 2024, 68,223 new companies were registered, this being the lowest value in recent semesters, including the first semester of 2019.
Nine countries experienced a higher number of insolvencies, and three countries recorded a decrease (Bulgaria, Croatia and Latvia).
Construction and real estate sectors are among the most cyclical sectors. Sensitive to changes in the labour market, prices and the interest rate, they are currently under strain.

PPC Blue Romania, part of the PPC group in Romania, has signed a partnership with Dedeman, a Romanian-owned DIY retailer, for the installation and operation of electric vehicle charging stations across Dedeman's national store network, both existing and future locations.
Raiffeisen Asset Management (RAM) manages around 15% of the financial assets of Raiffeisen Group's individual clients in Romania, almost double the market average.
PPC Energie, an integrated energy provider, has added an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) service for energy storage systems (BESS) to its portfolio of solutions for companies.
In 2026, production sites in Romania are turning to power studies to understand how energy is consumed and distributed within their own installations, at the level of equipment and production lines.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a loan of RON 300 million (€57 million equivalent) to Delgaz Grid, an electricity and gas distribution company operating in Romania, to support energy security.