William De Vijlder (64) retired this autumn as the chief economist of BNP Paribas. In a farewell interview, he reflects on four decades of economic analysis. ‘Everything is even more interconnected than I once thought, which makes it incredibly …

Every year, I look with some amazement at the annual forecasts from the major financial institutions—particularly the expected returns that sit squarely near the long-term average. You can be almost certain these predictions won’t materialize. Basing …

The year 2024 was a year of further consolidation in the Belgian private banking market. Many are eager to see what room for manoeuvre Degroof Petercam will have under its new French owner, Indosuez. The past year was marked by a flurry of merger and …

European investors are heading into 2025 with a stark warning: tread carefully. Analysts at Axa Investment Managers (Axa IM) have painted a picture of fragile markets, wavering economies, and thin margins for mistakes. In a recent presentation to clients …

Many financial organisations are currently working flat out to implement the Digital Operational Resilience Act, or Dora for short. And with good reason, as the regulations come into force on 17 January 2025. By then, a large number of contracts will have …

These are worrying times. Geopolitically, a new world war seems imminent. The challenges in Europe are so significant that the valuation of European stocks has halved compared to the American markets. In a month, a new president will take office in the …

Donald Trump’s re-election has derailed the proposed stricter Basel III regulations for banks, threatening their implementation for both U.S. and European institutions. U.S. bank share prices have surged sharply, and asset managers are spotting renewed …

The financial media are buzzing with stories about the impact of Donald Trump as president, questions surrounding the supposedly high valuation of equities, the collapse of Germany, and the meteoric rise in the price of bitcoin. However, these headlines …

Degroof Petercam has appointed Sylvie Huret as its new chief executive, succeeding Hugo Lasat, who will step down at the end of 2024 after three years at the helm. The move marks a pivotal moment in the bank's integration with Indosuez Wealth Management, …

Swap rates have fallen below European government bond yields for several weeks—a rare shift that is forcing institutional investors to reconsider their interest rate hedging strategies. Lucas Bouwhuis, senior portfolio manager at Achmea Investment …

William De Vijlder reflects on 40 years of economic waves: ‘We quickly forget turbulent times’

Chart of the week: The average return does not exist

Belgian private banking consolidates: all eyes on Degroof Petercam

Investors face a tightrope walk in 2025, warns AXA IM

Universal Investment: Preparing for Dora’s contract challenges

Room for more optimism

Derailing of Basel III sends investors back to U.S. banks

Chart of the week: China’s broken growth model

Hugo Lasat steps down at Degroof Petercam, Sylvie Huret new CEO

Swap spreads go negative: Should investors ditch swaps for bonds?