English | Financial news with a German perspective

Fundraising for traditional private equity buyout funds is running at very low levels. But institutional investors are more enthusiastic about opportunities in real estate and infrastructure and secondaries.

Julius Bär is grappling with losses from risky real estate projects. It is now focusing on a return to its core business of asset management.

Manfred Knof is back. The former Commerzbank CEO has been appointed Chairman of crypto specialist Valour, and strategic advisor to Valour's parent company, DeFi Technologies.

Lucrezia Reichlin is a Professor at the London Business School – and an Italian. She is alarmed at the Rome government's interventions in the consolidation of the Italian banking sector.

Allianz Trade's insolvency forecast predicts a further upward trend in the number of cases in Germany. Analysts are concerned about the numerous large-scale insolvencies, which could trigger a domino effect.

All just temporary: One after another, Frankfurt’s cultural institutions are moving to interim locations. Their main buildings are in such a state of disrepair that continuing operations during renovation work is no longer possible.

The EU wants to encourage more savers to become investors – but there is disagreement between the Commission, the Council, and Parliament over which regulations would support that goal – and which might hinder it.

Bitstamp has strengthened its position in the EU market with a Luxembourg MiCA licence. Europe's oldest crypto exchange was acquired last year by US neobroker Robinhood.

Former CEO Frank Niehage got another slap in the face with the denial of discharge for 2024 at the FlatexDerigo AGM. And small shareholders' representatives complained about the meagre dividend.

Juan Flames, Head BME and Primary Markets and Market Data at SIX Group , calls on companies to rethink their IPO strategies.

The Raiffeisenbank im Hochtaunus has officially become the fourth current bailout case within the cooperative financial group. The BVR protection scheme is looking at having to cover 1.2 billion euros of losses.

Negotiations on the EU Financial Data Access (FiDA) Regulation should be concluded by year end. But there is still plenty of controversy over the proposals.

Cyber threats never take a break. At the Börsen-Zeitung Retail Banking Day, BDO and ByteLaw explained that true IT security relies not just on technology, but also on strategy, culture, and clear accountability

MUFG is expanding its business with private equity players in the German speaking region. In the Betting Billions podcast Natascha Winberg, Head of Financial Institutions for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, discusses the role of funding products such as capital call facilities and NAV loans.

The ultra wealthy view a global trade war as the greatest current risk to their investments. A new UBS report surveyed 300 single family offices.

Against the background of increased volatility and the threat of a trade war, Metzler Asset Management has a positive view on German government bonds. And gold looks to benefit further as global investors reduce their holdings of US Treasuries.

A significant number of new executives at corporates and banks do not complete their intended contract terms. Consultants from Onboard 360 look at some of the common pitfalls in the hiring process.

A few weeks ago, a group of business consultants founded the German-Ukrainian Private Business Institute in Heidelberg. The initiators want to promote the reconstruction of Ukraine through German companies and investors.

Smaller banks in particular should benefit from simplified rules and less bureaucracy, says Bundesbank board member Michael Theurer. Initiatives for the streamlining of regulations are already underway, or are being explored.

Deutsche Telekom has acquired the media rights to the biggest World Cup package of all time, for next year's tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada. Telekom expects strong interest in sub-licences, and wants to build on its commercial success with UEFA Euro 2024.

The recent German Savings Banks Day offered plenty of food for thought – except on the topic of Banking Union. On that front, the savings banks remain firmly opposed to change – which they mostly see as something others need to undertake.

Many signs indicate that the EU remains committed to its tariffs strategy, gradually refining its proposals. Even if – or precisely because – the US President is railing so strongly against the EU.