Apollo Plans $100 Billion for German Companies
US investment firm Apollo Global Management aims to invest up to $100 billion in German companies over the next decade. Scott Kleinman gives a first interim assessment in Handelsblatt.
Category Economy
Economic news on companies, work, consumer issues, markets and developments in Germany and Europe.
DIW President Fratzscher: Pension Reform Proposals Fall Short
Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute for Economic Research (Berlin), has criticized the pension commission's proposals released over the weekend as insufficient. He told the Rheinische Post that the recommendations are not enough to stabilize the statutory pension system.
Pension Commission Recommends Capital Funding for Statutory Pension
A German pension commission has proposed a fundamental overhaul of the statutory pension system, including the introduction of a mandatory capital-funded component, linking the retirement age to life expectancy, and phasing out the pension at 63 without deductions.
Steinmeier: Germany and Uzbekistan deepen economic ties
During a visit to Tashkent, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the closer relations between Germany and Uzbekistan.
EU prepares tariffs on Chinese plug-in hybrids
The European Union is planning import duties on plug-in hybrids from China, according to a press report.
Mandatory Cancellation Button: Online Shops Must Improve
Online shops are now legally required to place a clearly visible cancellation button on their websites and apps. The aim is to make canceling contracts as easy as making a purchase with a single click.
Tashkent presents 120 proposals for economic reforms
Uzbekistan plans to create a binding reform roadmap based on 120 proposals from international investors. The recommendations emerged from the Tashkent International Investment Forum.
Italo Plans Entry into German Rail Market from 2028
Italian rail company Italo plans to enter Germany's long-distance market from 2028. The Railway and Transport Union EVG warns that at least 16 cities could lose their long-distance connections.
Farmers’ Association Calls for Extended Fuel Discount Beyond Harvest Season
The German Farmers' Association is pushing for an extension of the fuel discount, arguing that the harvest season is particularly fuel-intensive and that farmers still need relief despite recent price drops.
Working Hours Act: Gesamtmetall Criticizes Reform as Step Backward
The metal industry employers' association Gesamtmetall has sharply criticized the planned reform of the Working Hours Act. According to Deutschlandfunk, the association described the draft by Federal Labor Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD) as a return to old regulatory patterns.
Waste Strike in MV: Tariff Conflict Deadlocked After 15 Days
After 15 days of strikes, the tariff dispute at waste disposal companies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has reached a deadlock. According to NDR, the latest round of negotiations in Rosenow failed.
Opening of the Strait of Hormuz: Challenges for the Oil Market
The Strait of Hormuz is set to reopen to shipping, but mines and other issues complicate the return to normalcy.
Evonik to cut 2,150 jobs in Germany
The Essen-based chemical company Evonik plans to eliminate around 3,200 jobs by the end of 2029, with 2,150 of those in Germany. The company cited weak economic growth and tougher competition as reasons.
Bank of England holds key interest rate at 3.75 percent
The Bank of England left its key interest rate unchanged at 3.75 percent on Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive meeting without a change as inflation stalls.
RWI Chief Schmidt: Situation More Critical Than Agenda 2010
Christoph M. Schmidt, the designated president of the Leibniz Association and head of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, considers Germany's economic situation more critical than during the Agenda 2010 era. In an interview with Handelsblatt, he calls for a major reform package and warns against a gradual decline in prosperity.
DAX Nears 25,000 Points – Fed Holds Interest Rates Steady
The DAX is trading at 24,960 points on Thursday morning, continuing its sideways trend. Shortly after the market opened, the index hit 25,067 points but then fell back below that level.
EU Energy Commissioner Warns: Energy Crisis Not Over Yet
EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen has urged member states to remain cautious after the Iran war deal. According to FAZ, Jørgensen said the energy crisis is not over yet.
Iran-USA Agreement: IEA Predicts Oil Glut from 2027
The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects a significant oil surplus from 2027 if the agreement between the US and Iran holds.
UK unemployment falls to 4.9% as wage growth surprises
The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to April, while wage growth exceeded economists' expectations, increasing pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates.
Russia’s Economic Weakness Does Not Guarantee an End to the War
Reports of Russia's economic weakness are mounting, but history shows this does not mean the war will end soon. Military ambitions often outpace economic capacity.
German industrial employment hits ten-year low
The number of people employed in German industry has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. According to a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation, vacant positions are increasingly left unfilled.
BBC cuts 550 jobs in news and entertainment
The BBC is cutting 550 jobs, according to Spiegel. The cuts affect the news and entertainment divisions as well as management.
Cash loses top spot: Germans pay cashless more often
For the first time, German consumers in 2023 paid more often without cash than with it, according to a study by the Bundesbank.
DAX Moves Sideways Ahead of Fed Decision – BMW Issues Profit Warning
Ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, the DAX barely moved on Tuesday. According to Tagesschau, the benchmark index closed at 24,934 points, up a wafer-thin 0.1 percent.
Moderna Eyes BioNTech Plants in Germany
US pharmaceutical company Moderna is exploring the acquisition of production facilities from former rival BioNTech in Germany, while CEO Stéphane Bancel calls for better conditions for the pharma industry, according to Tagesschau.
BMW profit warning signals job cuts
BMW issued a surprise profit warning on Tuesday evening, hinting at workforce reductions. According to Tagesspiegel, the Munich-based automaker plans to intensify cost-cutting through structural and efficiency measures.
Meyer Werft and Siemens Energy Secure Billion-Euro Wind Power Contract
The Neptun Werft in Rostock-Warnemünde, together with Siemens Energy, has landed a billion-euro order for an offshore converter platform. According to Handelsblatt, grid operator 50Hertz awarded the contract worth 2.5 billion euros.
Billion-dollar order for Neptun shipyard: Wind power platforms from Rostock
The Neptun shipyard in Rostock has received a billion-dollar order to build offshore converter platforms. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, grid operator 50Hertz awarded the contract to a consortium of Siemens Energy and Meyer subsidiary Neptun.
Over 100 Founders and Managers Demand Reforms for Germany
More than 100 founders and managers have issued an urgent appeal to the German government to revitalize the country as a business location. The call comes shortly before the planned reform package on pensions and the welfare state.
Kevin Warsh Faces First Rate Decision as Fed Chair
Kevin Warsh, the new chair of the US Federal Reserve appointed by Donald Trump, is about to make his first interest rate decision. Falling oil prices could give him some leeway, while inflation risks persist, as reported by Tagesschau.
CDU Economic Council Demands Drastic Pension Reforms in Germany
The CDU Economic Council is calling for cuts to the basic pension, early retirement, and the mothers' pension to address demographic change. Secretary-General Wolfgang Steiger speaks of a necessary turnaround in retirement policy.
Yum! Brands sells Pizza Hut to Capital
The fast-food giant Yum! Brands is in exclusive talks to sell its Pizza Hut chain to the investment firm Capital, according to a report by Spiegel citing industry sources.
KNDS chief: Two new plants planned in Germany
Armored vehicle manufacturer KNDS plans to build two additional production sites in Germany, as announced by Germany CEO Florian Hohenwarter in an interview with the FAZ.
DAX closes higher on hopes for Iran peace deal
The DAX gained on Friday, supported by hopes for a diplomatic solution to the Iran conflict. According to Tagesschau, the index closed at 24,702.24 points.
Surface Pro and Laptop with Snapdragon X2: Prices, New Colors
Microsoft has unveiled the second generation of its Surface devices powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2. According to Heise, prices have risen significantly in some cases, while new colors expand the lineup.
Qualcomm unveils VR chip Snapdragon Reality Elite
Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon Reality Elite, a new chip for the next generation of VR and AR headsets. The company promises significant performance gains in AI, graphics, and energy efficiency.
Thyssenkrupp pushes ahead with IPO of materials subsidiary TK Accelis
The industrial group Thyssenkrupp plans to float its subsidiary TK Accelis on the stock exchange. The company, which employs 15,500 people, supplies factories with steel and other raw materials, as reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Fuel prices drop: Diesel and E10 approach pre-crisis levels
According to Spiegel, diesel on Monday cost only seven cents more than before the Iran war, and E10 was nine cents above. The fuel discount of 16.7 cents per liter expires at the end of the month and will not be extended.
Number of Social Housing Units in Germany Falls Again in 2025
The number of social housing units in Germany continued to decline in 2025. According to the federal government, despite subsidies for new construction, a net total of around 20,000 units were lost, with North Rhine-Westphalia particularly hard hit.
Ifo Institute Proposes Cuts to Parental Allowance and Mothers’ Pension
The Ifo Institute has analyzed savings options in the federal budget and proposes, among other things, a significant reduction in the income limit for parental allowance as well as cuts to the mothers' pension. The proposals were commissioned by the lobby organization Initiative New Social Market Economy (INSM).