In this Long Read, we turn our attention to the bond class that can actually protect investors from inflation: inflation-indexed bonds (IIB). As the name implies, inflation-indexed bonds are linked to inflation. But how exactly do they function? Unlike conventional bonds, which give investors a fixed coupon and a repayment of principal at maturity, inflation-indexed bonds will ...
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Floating wind: Technological advancement waiting on economic feasibility
Renewable offshore energy technologies are an important focus point for the ambitious energy and climate targets set by the EU for 2030 and 2050. Offshore wind is leading the charge, but as we look further down the sea, the traditional bottom-fixed design become less feasible. But where there are challenges, there is innovation: Floating turbines, coined as floating wind, can b ...
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US-China Decoupling Negative for Emerging Markets – Not Necessarily So
In the ever-evolving landscape of global economics and geopolitics, the concept of US-China decoupling emerges as a multifaceted phenomenon. It's a narrative painted with both challenges and opportunities for emerging markets. As we delve into this intricate tale, we find that amidst the tensions, there's a nuanced perspective to consider. Picture a vibrant night in Hangzhou, ...
The Rising Importance of Critical Minerals: Unveiling the Motive Behind Belgium's Federal Energy Minister's Presence at the Critical Minerals Conference
This week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) organized the world's inaugural conference on Critical Minerals and Clean Energy. Among the attendees were notable figures, including representatives from the Swiss mining giant Glencore and the Canadian Minister for Natural Resources. An unexpected participant at the conference was the Belgian Minister of Energy, given that crit ...
How limited space is adding complexity and creativity to Belgium’s climate transition
Each country works towards the climate transition with a set of assets, like Oman’s high potential for renewable energy or Belgium’s strong expertise in wind energy, and its own specific bottlenecks. One particularly interesting bottleneck Belgium faces is a relative shortage of space. Our country is small and densely populated, and ineffective spatial planning has let to ribbo ...
The Maritime Shipping Sector Vital component in addressing climate change
Addressing climate change has become an urgent global priority. As the global maritime shipping industry is transporting an impressive 11 billion tons of merchandise annually with the help of nearly 100,000 commercial vessels, this makes it not only a vital component of the global supply chain (scope 3 emissions), but also a vital component in addressing climate change. Today, ...
The Onboarding Process at Econopolis
The Handshake of Trust: Streamlining Client Onboarding in a Regulatory Landscape Client onboarding is one of the most important stages in the client lifecycle for Econopolis. It represents the initial point of contact between our wealth management service providers and prospective clients. First impressions can significantly influence the rest of the client relationship, makin ...
The Changing Landscape of Offshore Wind Energy: Analyzing LCOE Trends and Cost Structures
Recent developments in the wind energy sector have raised questions about the competitiveness of offshore wind power, with industry giants like Siemens Gamesa and Orsted Energy facing challenges, and the UK's largest offshore wind tender drawing no participants. In this blog post, we delve into the evolving landscape of offshore wind energy by analyzing the Levelised Cost of El ...
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Boom, Bust, and Biotech: A Belgian Stock Market Rollercoaster
Real Estate, Biotech and Naked Swims! The Belgian stock market is reputed for its Real Estate and Biotech or Medtech companies. Real estate stocks had a glorious ride, sponsored by the ECB’s lenient policies. Ultralow and negative interest rates pushed valuation and earnings higher and so went those stocks. Until the day of reckoning. And it came with a vengeance. Real estate ...
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Rising Tide of Solar Power: Exploring the Growth of PV and Floating PV Installations
The global transition to clean and renewable energy sources has significantly accelerated in recent years, with solar photovoltaic (PV) installations spearheading this movement. The statistics are nothing short of impressive: a staggering 1,047 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV systems have been installed worldwide, representing a remarkable twenty-six-fold growth since 2010. In 2022 ...