insights.

On Thursday 10 October, the Building Bridges Summit brought together 800 delegates from Swiss and international public and private institutions for an exciting programme of talks and panels on the topic of sustainable finance. Read more here. 

Japan is struggling to escape its economic ‘black hole’ of zero rates and in so doing, show other policy makers around the world how to escape the gravitational pull of ‘Japanification’.

Whether you’re a CEO or an entrepreneur, we can help you plan for your future. Pension provisions are often under unexploited and we have a comprehensive approach to managing pension assets over the short-,medium- and long-term. Read more from our expert Philippe Gay, Head of Swiss Offering. 

We cannot expect a revival in global output if US-China trade tensions continue to escalate. US consumer spending remains robust but job growth slows and certain sectors are beginning to show signs of concern. Read our full quarterly strategy by our experts.

Geneva is brimming with unexpected stories, innovative initiatives and enterprising individuals at the forefront of sustainable finance. We dip into Geneva's recent history in this area, which is unknown to many of the city's inhabitants, to understand better its sustainable ecosystem in the context of the "Building Bridges" event.

From 7-11 October 2019, Geneva will host  a “Building Bridges” summit with the aim of bridging the worlds of finance and sustainable development. Chaired by Patrick Odier, our Senior Managing Partner, the conference will bring together key stakeholders to discuss ways to foster the growth of sustainable finance.

Times are challenging for investors, as markets evolve under the influence of two opposing forces: the negative forces of the US-China trade war and Brexit, and the positive tide of central bank support. But the cycle is not over. Discover how we have positioned portfolios for the final months of the year in the latest video featuring Stéphane Monier, CIO Private Bank, and Samy Chaar, Chief Economist.

With growing concerns on the impact of tourism on the environment, many travellers are beginning to consider their carbon footprint. But what impact is this having on the tourism industry? And how can companies adapt to sustainable trends whilst enabling tourists to travel with a clean conscious? 

As a family business, we’ve developed a personalised approach to allow entrepreneurs to manage their assets in a comprehensive, structured and efficient way, by integrating their private portfolios with their pension assets and the surplus liquidity from their companies. At Lombard Odier, we believe that every entrepreneur is unique. This is why, we favour a holistic approach and take a long-term view at your assets. Discover more in our case study.

The decade-old bull market and low yield environment are pushing advances in alternative data sources and sustainable investment criteria.

Our Fondation Lombard Odier celebrates its 15th anniversary. We’ve supported innovative projects and participated to funding ground-breaking solutions addressing the most pressing educational and humanitarian challenges. We are proud to have engaged also in the development of the philanthropic sector on a large scale.

Greta Thunberg is a trailblazer for sustainability. And has led by example. Many young people are coming out in droves to protest against climate change and are turning to governments and businesses to help lead the charge. And they are seeing results. Last week saw renewed commitments from companies and investors alike, at the UN Climate Change Summit, in tackling climate change and building a better tomorrow. 

The 4th European B Corp Summit gathered on the 23th and 24th September with almost 700 people from 23 countries determined to make business a force for good. Read from our Head of Corporate Sustainability Ebba Lepage and other link-minded leaders driving the change towards a sustainable future. 

« Doing Better, More Efficiently: Measuring and Enhancing Philanthropic Vitality», a study imitated by Fondation Lombard Odier, takes stock of the state of philanthropic vitality in the region today, and identifies strategic opportunities to further enhance the dynamism of the sector.

France is making a name for itself as hub for global entrepreneurs, rising sustainability stars and may be on its way to rivalling Silicon Valley. France’s economy is growing quickly and with investment flooding in, we can see start-ups leading the way toward a sustainable tech ecosystem. Our partnership with France Digitale supports the next generation of disruptors. 

How are currency markets dealing with the latest round of easing measures and heightened geopolitical uncertainty? Read our latest insights in the September edition of the FX Monthly.

Frédéric Rochat explains our expertise in identifying companies committed to sustainability. The Eagles. Those who refuse to adapt or deny the Sustainability Revolution risk disappearing. We call these the Ostriches. Read more on our values, technology and our capabilities to do this on behalf of our clients. 

The US’s policies on trade and Iran are changing the geopolitical balance in the Middle East. An attack on a Saudi oil facility has increased risks for investors, although we do not anticipate a long-term oil shock.

Geopolitics drove oil price higher again. Should investors expect further rallies in the wake of recent attacks in Saudi Arabia? We explain why the impact on global activity should remain limited.

The European Central Bank announced new easing measures in response to the slowdown of the euro area. How will this affect banks in Europe and what is the macroeconomic impact? 

Andreas Arni to join as head of Lombard Odier’s Zurich office and head of its Swiss Domestic market, a newly created position
Lombard Odier further consolidates its leading positioning with domestic executives, entrepreneurs and families in Switzerland

Read our interview with Hubert Keller, CEO LOIM and Frédéric Rochat, Co-Head of Private Clients. They explain why we select Eagles for our portfolios because they are the winners of tomorrow. We avoid investing in Ostriches, those companies who refuse to adopt sustainable models and risk being left behind.

Less exposed than neighbouring Germany to the global trade dispute, France has a political and economic window of opportunity to push through a series of reforms to the state’s infrastructure.

Our Zurich office celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and has its eyes firmly fixed on the future, with some exciting new developments in mind. We spoke to Felix Oeschger, Head of Private Client Services in Zurich on what makes Zurich different, our clients and what the future may hold.

Latin America’s slowing growth and political instability is compounded by the US/China trade dispute and vulnerabilities to the US dollar.

By communicating their practices and impact in a transparent way, SMEs are reaching a new generation of investors determined to use their capital to promote sustainability. Moreover, there has never been a better time to found a company in our country. Swiss SMEs, therefore, have a significant role to play in creating a sustainable future.

After receiving the B Corp certification from B Lab in March this year following a rigorous assessment of our environmental and social performance, the Lombard Odier Group has now been recognised in B Lab’s 2019 Best for the World customer category.

Global warming is creating a rapidly growing demand for cooling systems, themselves a significant driver of climate change. The potential solution: a new field of technological innovation 4000 years in the making.

Boris Johnson’s push to suspend the UK parliament makes a no-deal Brexit and a general election more likely. Still, with sterling near two-year lows, most negative news is priced in.

While the outlook has deteriorated amid escalating trade tensions, central banks have shifted towards accommodative monetary policies. How can investors strike the right balance between growth uncertainty and easy financial conditions? Find out why and how we have adopted a more defensive stance in our portfolio positioning with Stéphane Monier, CIO Private Bank, and Samy Chaar, Chief Economist.

Total client assets at end-June 2019 stood at CHF 287 billion, up 11% from end-December 2018. Net new money flows were robust and the market impact on client assets was positive in the first six months of the year.

Germany is on the brink of a recession that may prove a catalyst to new, and much needed, infrastructure spending in the EU’s biggest economy.

Not all futures are created equal. Dimitri Zenghelis, Project Leader for The Wealth Economy at Cambridge explains the concept of “discounting” and assessing the risks associated with climate change. Climate change is a serious and long-social problem that we cannot place on the shoulders of generations to come.  Decisions taken today should not decide policies for those not even born.

Discover this exquisite video of DYSFUNCTIONAL, our exhibition in partnership with Carpenters Workshop Gallery. This film captures the heart of the exposition; in particular, the questioning of boundaries between art and design, aesthetics and functionality.

Italy faces a fresh political crisis. Could it lead to another EU budget row? Should investors be concerned? We assess four possible scenarios. 

The presence of international organisations, UN agencies and large private foundations gives the financial centre of Geneva significant credibility in establishing itself as a hub for sustainable finance. This October, Geneva will showcase its rich heritage of expertise in the field during the city’s Sustainable Finance Week.

Dead zones are one of the biggest sustainability issues of our time. What are they? Why isn’t everyone talking about them? And how can we fight against their environmental devastation, damaging effect on coastal economies and ability to wipe out species. Read more on how investors must play an essential role in incentivising the solutions we need.

Managing the financing of your real estate is an important part of your overall wealth management planning. When the time comes to renegotiating your mortgage, you have several options. You can pay off your mortgage, renew it or consider taking out a Lombard loan.

Argentine president Macri’s loses the primary election. What does it mean for the country’s economy and the wider emerging markets’ prospects? Read more here from our macro strategist, Stéphanie de Torquat.

With the US-China trade war entering a new and more acrimonious period – we assess the winners and losers, from a country, regional, macroeconomic and markets perspective.

The next generation continue to break boundaries. Meet one such young person: Selin Yigitbasi. Her interest in volunteering led to her establishing her own company, Goodsted. An innovative platform, it brings together socially minded individuals or firms who are keen to volunteer their services or efforts to non-profit projects. Selin aspires to “collaborate on projects to create positive change.”

Committed to supporting educational and environmental initiatives, Smile Wave Fund is hosted by our foundation, Fondation Philanthropia. This allows the umbrella fund’s founder, Adelin Coigny, to “nurture this project and gain experience in the area of institutional philanthropy.”

Alexandre Zeller became a Lombard Odier Partner on 1 March 2019. A well-known figure in Swiss banking, he tells us about his first impressions and projects for the Group in the weeks following his arrival. Sincere and friendly, he shares his experiences and his vision for the future.

Financial markets have been left reeling after Trump’s Twitter announcement that the US will levy additional tariffs of 10% on the remaining USD 300 bn of goods and products coming from China. Predictably, this led to a retaliation from the Chinese to stop purchases of US agricultural products. The rising escalation has led us to review our FX forecasts due to the increased risk of a complete breakdown in negotiations. Read more here.

Lombard Odier further strengthens its sustainability capabilities and offering with the arrival of Dr. Christopher Kaminker as Head of Sustainable Investment Research & Strategy for Lombard Odier Investment Managers and Ebba Lepage as Head of Corporate Sustainability 

What does the latest threat of fresh US tariffs on China mean for financial assets? We review our portfolio positioning in light of the recent market-moving events, including the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut in over a decade and President Trump’s proposal to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods.

Lombard Odier is proud to have joined the B Corp movement, a group of companies passionate about working together to foster sustainable development. Bertrand Gacon, our Head of Corporate Sustainability, explains in five key points what it means for us to become a B Corporation and discusses our commitments to sustainable change.

In today’s economic environment, central bankers’ inflation targeting looks like an answer to an outdated question.

As if the ‘no-deal’ Brexit rhetoric and planning by the new UK government were not enough, sterling is under pressure from domestic economic data developments and possibly central bank stance.

Individual commitments to eating less meat aren’t enough to create a meaningful reduction in carbon emissions. Fortunately, several simple yet powerful solutions are in the works. And they promise to revolutionise the meat industry into an exemplar of sustainability.