One fascinating espionage technique during the Cold War was the “sleeper mole.” These were Soviet agents who operated inconspicuously in the West for years—sometimes even decades—awaiting activation. To avoid being recognized as communists, these moles …

Shrinking fees, rising costs and the continued shift to passive investing have created a structural identity crisis among Europe’s asset managers. Some firms are pursuing mergers to scale up. Others are focusing on innovation and client-centric investment …

President Trump had it all envisioned. A copy-paste “Plaza Accord” that would enshrine him and the Mar-a-Lago Accord in the history books, securing the hegemony of the US dollar. But for now, it remains something Trump can only dream about. If Trump’s …

Sustainable investing has been under pressure for some time, not least due to the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. This shift in sentiment has also hit ecology funds hard. But Trump is not the only factor. Funds that invest in companies active in …

After more than six decades, Warren Buffett has announced that he will step down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of this year. He will hand over the reins to Greg Abel. The announcement followed the annual shareholders' meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. …

This week’s overview of people transfers and appointments in and around Luxembourg includes updates from law firms Simmons & Simmons and Clifford Chance, Carmignac, Northern Trust, NBIM, and Fasanara. Simmons & Simmons Law firm Simmons & Simmons has …

Hopes for a fresh reform trajectory for the German economy suffered a serious blow on Tuesday. Friedrich Merz, the man expected to drive the country’s modernisation as chancellor, failed to secure a parliamentary majority during a first vote in the …

Warren Buffett took a step back from Berkshire Hathaway this week. The end of an (amazing) era. Warren Buffett is often portrayed as a financial genius whose returns are unmatched. But behind the impressive numbers of Berkshire Hathaway lies no secret …

The latest automatic salary hike in Luxembourg landed on Workers’ Day. Cheers all around, but will rising costs hurt the fund industry? On the 29th of April 2025, I and every single person receiving a salary or pension in Luxembourg received some …

With mounting pressure on housing, cybersecurity, and talent retention, Luxembourg's bankers are calling for a policy reset. Industry group ABBL considers its blueprint as essential to maintaining Luxembourg's edge in an increasingly complex banking …

Über-capitalist becomes communist

Bigger isn’t always better in asset management

Chart of the week: Mar-a-Lago: pressure, predicament, and drama

Morningstar: Impax vs. Pictet in ecology funds

Tears in Omaha

Transfers: S&S, Clifford Chance, Carmignac, NBIM, Fasanara

Berlin’s reform agenda on shaky ground after failed chancellor vote

The true strength of Buffett: loyalty to a simple strategy

Salary indexation will kill our fund industry

As banking grows more complex, ABBL pleads for structural reform