English | Financial news with a German perspective

There must be limits to the independence of banks, as demonstrated by the crisis of the VR-Bank Bad Salzungen Schmalkalden. Fortunately, reason has prevailed.

Venture capital firms worldwide still face challenges in raising funds. According to data provider Pitchbook, only a small fraction of the amount raised last year came together in the first quarter of 2024.

Additional capital requirements for the German credit industry should be clearly justified. Unfortunately, BaFin is reluctant to do so.

Verena Ross has been head of ESMA since 2021. Her career in financial supervision in Europe has taken her to the Bank of England and the FSA.

Small and mid caps have lagged behind blue chips in recent years. In her interview with Börsen-Zeitung, Caroline Gauthier, Co-Head of Equities at Edmond de Rothschild AM, explains why this is the case and what is needed to get small and growth stocks back on track.

The Swedish music streaming service Spotify has found its new CFO in the domestic defense industry. Christian Luiga comes from Saab.

The price of cocoa is on a record hunt. More than 10,000 dollars have already been paid for a ton of cocoa in New York these days, more than ever before. This is not least due to a disappointing harvest season in West Africa.

The three major German investment fintechs have six million customers. The banks' replacement is taking place bit by bit.

The takeover of Simcorp was not only the largest in the history of Deutsche Börse. It also had a major transformational effect.

For too long, the German coalition, in its subliminal anti-capitalist reflex, has brushed aside the warnings of the economy about loss of competitiveness. This is now taking its revenge - and a comprehensive rescue plan is needed.

Nurten Erdogan is the new CFO of ING Germany. The 54-year-old German-Turkish woman owes her decades of management experience to a talent for numbers and people, an unwavering determination, a thirst for knowledge and her set of values.

Sean Hagerty, Head of Vanguard Europe, and Sebastian Külps, Head of Vanguard Germany and Northern Europe, discuss Vanguard's strategy in Germany, fees, active ETFs, and excessive commissions.

For the financial investor CVC, the industrial gases group Messer was a deal that was as complex as it was lucrative. It was triggered by the merger of industry giants Linde and Praxair.

With its new campaign against Big Tech, the EU has to demonstrate that the latest digital laws are fit for purpose, otherwise it risks losing credibility.

The Capital Markets Union finally has a real chance of being implemented – after years of merely talking about it. Because it's no longer just about bank or market financing. It's about prosperity and security – in other words, it's about the fundamentals.

Deutsche Leasing wants to utilise its potential in North America to a greater extent, says CEO Kai Ostermann. He also sees good growth opportunities in transformation financing.

Private debt is increasingly attracting private investors in fundraising. Their money is tempting, but is the industry really doing itself a favour in the long run?

The quest for three replacements on the Bundesbank board has been ongoing for some time. Recently, the Bundesrat made its initial nomination by selecting Lutz Lienenkämper.

The German banking sector had feared that the EU would restrict commission-based sales of financial products. This outcome now appears unlikely.

SAP is measured against heavyweights like Microsoft, but also collaborates closely with them in the field of artificial intelligence. CFO Dominik Asam explains why he sees SAP in a strong position in these negotiations, what role US investors play for him, and what AI has to do with instant coffee.

Following the acquisition last summer, the new US subsidiary SVS Vision shows the strongest growth within the Fielmann Group in the first months of this year. Germany's largest optical chain can envision further growth in the world's largest eyewear market through additional acquisitions.

Frankfurt has moved up one spot in the global financial centre ranking. Nevertheless, the gap between the leading financial hubs is small.