English | Financial news with a German perspective

Neutral atom quantum computers look set to eclipse the performance of today's supercomputers. German company Planqc recently raised 50 million euros in a new financing round.

Paying with cash remains popular, but its use is trending downwards. In contrast, mobile payment methods via smartphone are on the rise. And the big winner is PayPal.

France's radical political forces are heading for mega-debt and are calculating the "rescue" into the equation, warns Ifo head Clemens Fuest. The future of the eurozone is hanging by a thread.

The value of real estate fund UniImmo Wohnen ZBI has fallen dramatically. More transparency would have been desirable.

Condor is too small to survive on its own in a busines which relies on scale. Investor Attestor Capital is still on board, but in the medium term new boss Peter Gerber will probably have to look for a partner.

In its latest Financial Stability Report, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority has highlighted falling real estate prices, and uncertain valuations, as a challenge.

The takeover of Covestro by Adnoc would be the first full takeover of a DAX company by a state-owned company from the Gulf. Adnoc Chief Investment Officer Klaus Fröhlich discusses the deal with Börsen-Zeitung.

Corporate leaders are well-advised to refrain from making political statements. Deka CEO Georg Stocker distinguishes himself from Börse CEO Theodor Weimer in this regard.

Lorne Campbell at executive search firm Boyden sees a further enhancement of Frankfurt as a financial regulatory hub with the establishment of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA).

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is optimistic that the global economy will achieve a soft landing. However, it cautions that central banks must remain vigilant on inflation, and calls for fiscal restraint from governments.

Issuance volume for European IPOs tripled in the first half of the year, and was on a par with the US. But China has been falling behind.

Because Berlin has relied more on wishful thinking than on science and facts, the energy transition is now threatening to blow up in its face.

New hydrogen-capable gas-fired power plants are needed to phase out coal. But the incentives for their construction are lacking, which jeopardises the energy transition, warns EnBW CFO Thomas Kusterer.

Fast fashion is living up to its name. Yesterday's trendsetters can quickly become shelf warmers, even for investors.

AI is the next challenge facing competition authorities worldwide. Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, views AI as an accelerant for market concentration.

Technology investor DTCP has raised over 400 million dollars for a new growth fund. Slightly less than half comes from anchor investor Deutsche Telekom.

The first half of the year was a disaster for cinema operators. Many expected box office hits turned out to be flops. For the film studios, streaming continues to grow in importance.

A University of Hohenheim study has analysed the language used in speeches by Dax company CEOs at AGMs. The general trend is towards more comprehensibility – but with wide variations.

Artificial Intelligence does not yet play a major role in the asset management industry. But a Boston Consulting Group survey shows that many firms have plans for new applications.

Around one third of jobs in industrialised countries will become more productive thanks to AI, but another third could disappear. The IMF demands political initiatives to deal with the changes.

Berlin based satellite image software analysis start-up LiveEO has just raised 25 million euros in a new funding round. One use of its software is helping companies comply with a new EU Deforestation Regulation.

Private equity firms are extracting lavish dividends from their portfolio companies while waiting for the right time to sell. One recent example of these dividend recaps is Best Secret, owned by Permira.