How the age of the deal made chaos look investable. “I gave up caring about anything and all my problems disappeared”. (Friedrich Nietzsche) “I’ve been studying this now for three years. I’ve read 25 books on it”. (Jared Kushner) “I don't like violence, Tom. I'm a businessman; blood is a big expense”. (Virgil Solozzo in ‘The Godfather’) Back in February, I publishe ...
Headwinds for Wind: Can We Still Reach the NZE 2030 Target?
Last week, we took a dive into solar PV additions in 2024, placing them against the 2030 NZE benchmark to see how far we’ve come. This week, we turn our eyes to wind power. It’s important to start from the same reference point: under the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions scenario, 2,742 GW of installed wind capacity (onshore and offshore combined) is needed by 2030. With solar surging, ...
#MacroFriday: Shutdown Underlines US Mounting Debt Burden
Last wednesday, the U.S. government entered a shutdown after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a new federal funding bill. As a result, non-essential government functions have been suspended: ‘non-essential’ federal workers are furloughed without pay, while others in ‘essential’ roles continue to work temporarily unpaid. President Trump’s renewed threats of potential ...
From Code to Medicine to Climate: How Resilience Investments Are Driving New Opportunities
Image generated by Gemini Europe stands at a crossroads. The shocks of recent years — from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine — have laid bare just how fragile the continent’s economic and defensive foundations can be. Supply chains once taken for granted have splintered, energy dependencies have become strategic risks, and the comfortable assumption of lasting peace has give ...
Solar Surge Revisited: Are We Closing in on the 2030 Net Zero Target?
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 ...
Recap: Econopolis Economic Encounter 2025
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 ...
#MacroFriday: China's Strategic Grip on the West
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 ...
Hearing Aids: Appealing Long Term Market Potential
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 acce ...
#MacroFriday: Wake-Up Call: Inflation
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 cof ...
The Pragmatic Climate Reset: What It Could Mean for Belgium
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 ...