Taiwan’s importance extends far beyond its size. The island occupies a central position in global semiconductor supply chains. It also remains one of the world’s most geopolitically sensitive hotspots.
15
Oct
EACC & Member News
15
Oct
The US will hold its midterm elections – a de facto referendum on the Trump administration – on 3rd November after two years shaped by rising trade protectionism, attacks on Federal Reserve independence and, since the spring, the Iran war.
14
Oct
14
Oct
13
Oct
Since 27 September 2026, stricter rules on sustainability claims, labels and product durability apply. They follow from the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (“EmpCo” or “ECGT Directive“), which has been implemented in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has called on companies to critically review their existing sustainability claims.
12
Oct
Global bond markets finally found their footing last week, and currency markets followed suit.
The 10-year Treasury yield touched a fresh 24-year high on Thursday, but it ended the week slightly lower, while French bonds recovered some of their recent losses. The US Dollar Index had been grinding steadily higher due to the rout, but it ended the week close to unchanged. Equity investors took the calmer backdrop as a green light, and the S&P 500 set fresh record highs midweek despite long-term yields sitting near multi-decade peaks. We would caution against reading too much into a single week of calm. None of the fiscal worries in France or the UK have been resolved, and the equity rally looks increasingly disconnected from the rising cost of long-term borrowing. For now, however, bonds appear to have dropped sufficiently to entice some bargain hunting.
12
Oct
07
Oct
Germany is entering the final months of 2026 with an intensive agenda of tax changes that will have a direct impact on companies and taxpayers starting in 2027.
06
Oct
Last week, in the United States, there was some good economic news, and investors appeared to respond accordingly. In the second quarter, growth in real gross domestic product was upwardly revised, while inflation eased slightly in August. These factors likely contributed to investors’ expectations that the Federal Reserve is less likely to tighten monetary policy at its next meeting. The result was an initial rise in equity prices before they reverted. Yet, bond yields continued to rise despite the good inflation news. Let’s look at the details:
05
Oct
The relentless sell-off in government bonds worldwide remained the dominant force in financial markets last week.
The 10-year Treasury yield rose to its highest level since 2002, and the US Dollar Index gained as a result. If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, we are now witnessing a flight to safety episode, as the dollar rallied in spite of softer inflation and jobs data that has pushed back market expectations of Fed hikes – as witnessed by the fact that the best performer for the week was the Swiss franc. Oil fell sharply after the G7 agreed on an emergency release of crude and diesel, yet yields kept rising, a further sign that this rout is now driven by the growing risk premium attached to sovereign debt with increasingly shaky fundamentals.