Articles
-
Machine-Driven Markets: How AI is Reshaping the World of Investing
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming financial markets by accelerating analysis, automating trading decisions and reshaping how investors allocate capital. While AI can improve efficiency and reduce human bias, its growing influence also raises concerns about market instability, transparency and regulatory oversight.
-
Remote Work and the Reshaping of Commercial Real Estate in Inner Cities
The Covid-19 pandemic entrenched remote and hybrid work, reducing office demand and reshaping inner-city commercial activity. Although some firms have reinstated office mandates, expiring leases may allow the shift toward more decentralised work to continue.
-
From Record Highs to a Crash: How the Cocoa Crisis Is Transforming the Chocolate Industry
Cocoa prices surged from US$2,500 in 2023 to nearly US$13,000 per ton in 2024 before falling sharply again. Yet the crisis exposed deeper issues such as underinvestment, climate shocks and supply concentration. As a result, the chocolate industry is rethinking its supply chain, from West African smallholders to cocoa-free alternatives.
-
From Multilateralism to Bilateralism: The New Form of Trade
As the global trading order steadily drifts away from the multilateral framework that has defined it for decades, built on clear rules and anchored by institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO), a different reality is taking shape. In its place, a more fragmented system is emerging, one that increasingly resembles a return to mercantilism.…
-
Zurich Insurance Agrees $10.8bn Takeover of Beazley to Build Global Leader in Specialty Insurance
Zurich Insurance has agreed to acquire UK-based specialty insurer Beazley in a $10.8bn all-cash transaction, marking one of the largest deals in the specialty insurance sector in recent years. The deal creates a global platform with around $15bn in gross written premiums, strengthening Zurich’s position in high-growth segments such as…
-
The Increasing Incorporation of ESG Performance into Stock Valuations
As ESG became more deeply embedded in stock valuations, its ability to offer investors an edge may have gradually diminished. Yet this development raises a broader question: if sustainability is increasingly priced in, what role does ESG play in shaping investment decisions?
-
Decarbonization: Building Materials Giant CRH Acquires Eco Material in a $2.1 Billion Deal
In a $2.1 billion all-cash deal to accelerate decarbonization, the Irish building materials giant CRH has acquired North American supplementary cementitious materials leader Eco Material Technologies, forging a new sustainable concrete powerhouse. The deal secures vital long-term supply of critical materials and expands CRH’s US cement production capacity by 60%, though…
-
Prada and Versace Merge to Create Italy’s Largest Fashion Brand in a €1.25 Billion Deal
In a €1.25 billion transaction, Prada has acquired Versace to create Italy’s largest listed luxury fashion group and deepen its multi-brand strategy. The deal strengthens Prada’s global positioning, particularly in the United States and Asia, reflecting the broader industry shift toward scale and portfolio diversification amid increasing competition from French luxury groups such as LVMH…
-
Anglo American and Teck Agree $53 Billion Merger to Form Mining Giant Anglo Teck
In a $53 billion all-share combination positioned as a merger of equals, Anglo American and Teck Resources are joining forces to form Anglo Teck — a new global copper heavyweight and one of the largest mining deals in over a decade. With roughly 72% exposure to copper, the deal underscores a strategic pivot toward critical…
-
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition: A New Model for Switzerland?
This interview with Luca Hany, founder of Amboro Capital, presents Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) as a growing path to entrepreneurship in Switzerland, allowing individuals to acquire and lead established SMEs. While strong succession dynamics create attractive opportunities, the discussion highlights that ETA remains relatively unknown in Switzerland but shows significant potential as awareness among entrepreneurs…
