After Wednesday’s Econopolis Economic Encounter, with guest speaker Professor David Criekemans discussing his new book Hyperrealism, it is only logical we dedicate our MacroFriday to geopolitics. The lack of resources in some regions, or the strategic control over them in others, can play a vital role in economic developments. And China holds considerable leverage over the West ...

On Wednesday the 1st of October, clients, partners and colleagues gathered for our annual Econopolis Economic Encounter, an evening to reflect together on the forces shaping the global economy, markets, and our investment strategies. CEO & Economist Geert Noels opened the night by underlining a clear ambition: in a world where geopolitics, technology and climate transitions ...

More than a year ago, our weekly Climate Shocker studied the global solar PV capacity additions for 2023 and how they stacked up against the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) targets for 2030. With 2024 well behind us and new data available, it felt like the right moment to revisit those numbers and assess where we stand. In this update, the focus will lie on grid-connected solar photov ...

The hearing aids industry is attractive given secular growth drivers. Although the market environment is challenging in the short term, the market should eventually return to its historical growth pattern. There are several investment options for investors looking to get exposure to the theme.   Megatrends … Ageing populations, more active seniors, reduced stigma, improved a ...

Who else is winding down this beautiful Friday with the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans and a final caffeine boost to push through the last hours of the day? Enjoy it a little more than usual while reading this, because your coffee just got a lot more expensive. Brazilian weather conditions matter a great deal, since Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of Arabica co ...

Michael Liebreich, well known as the founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance and a leading energy opinion-maker, has last summer stirred debate with his call for a “pragmatic climate reset.” His argument lands at a moment when climate policies are losing traction across several countries, with political pushback mounting against high costs and ambitious targets. Far from advoca ...

A recent VUB study confirms the difficult position of Flanders’ strong energy-intensive industry. This industry is the backbone of our economy, creating jobs, exports, added value and enables economic ecosystems. But it is now under intense competitive pressure while also being required to decarbonize. Hydrogen and CCS emerge as central themes. Ortelius’ “Industrievisie” builds ...

Slowly, economic data are uncovering the effects of trade uncertainties following Trump’s tariff hikes. This week’s MacroFriday specifically looks at changes in Belgian exports to the US.   The total value of Belgian exports to the US in Q2 fell to €7.27 billion, a drop of 12.1% compared to the same period last year. This is the lowest (nominal) export value since Q4 2021 ...

The insatiable hunger for electricity The world stands on the brink of an unprecedented surge in electricity demand. Buildings are becoming increasingly energy-intensive due to smart technology, heating, and cooling systems that are rapidly electrifying. On top of that, the explosive growth of data centers and artificial intelligence is driving demand further. According to the ...

While (increasingly smaller) parts of the global population still question whether climate change is real, or at least how much it matters for their daily lives, one sector is already feeling its effects directly. The insurance industry exists to measure and price risk, and the steady rise in natural disasters is starting to disrupt that business model in a fundamental way. We ...