Over the past few months, global growth expectations for 2019 have been continuously adjusted downwards. Although fears of a recession gained ground in the last quarter of 2018, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s change of course, as well as 2019’s unexpectedly more positive first-quarter reporting season, contributed to a significant easing of the situation.

The price of gold reached a significant high recently. In our latest video, ETHENEA Senior Portfolio Manager Michael Blümke gives our assessment of the increase in the precious metal, what tactical implications this has within the Ethna-AKTIV portfolio and what our long-term strategy is in relation to gold.

The slightest thing – a remark by a central bank, a geopolitical development or the publication of market data – could be enough to tip the balance of general sentiment in the markets and trigger a correction. The movement up or down could gather momentum due to group dynamics, and end up becoming dramatic. In our latest Market Commentary, Harald Berres looks at whether such extreme movements inevitably herald a lasting economic downturn or upturn.