An investment strategy aligned with what feels right for you
Handing over the management of your wealth with confidence? For many investors, peace of mind is at least as important as returns. With a tailored investment strategy, managed by professional experts, you choose an approach in which human expertise and technology reinforce one another. Mailee Hovsepian, Customer Relationship Manager, speaks with Mark Van Assche, Senior Account Manager Private Banking & Wealth Office at KBC Asset Management, about this combination and how it helps shape well-considered investment decisions.
02-09-2026
How are investors reacting?
Share prices hit new record highs, particularly in the US
The war with Iran has caused significant volatility on the stock markets in recent months. Since the end of March, the markets have recovered and reached new record highs, particularly in the US. The sharp rise triggered profit-taking on tech shares last month.
From time to time, doubts arise about the profitability of AI investments.
Companies published strong results for the second quarter, but high long-term interest rates have weighed on share prices over the past week.
What happened in the world?
Oil price rises sharply due to escalation of conflict in the Middle East
The chances of an agreement between the US and Iran are difficult to estimate.
Flare-ups in the conflict have caused another sharp rise in the oil price in the past two weeks. The medium-term impact of the energy shock is still uncertain.
After the European Central Bank raised its policy rate in June, it decided to raise interest rates further in September. The US central bank (Fed) kept its policy rate stable. However, Fed Chair Warsh recently emphasized that inflation in the US is not yet sufficiently under control. The inflation rate for August was, as expected, the same as that for July.
Rising budget deficits in the US, but also in Europe, are contributing to higher interest rate expectations. As a result, long-term interest rates rose to the highest level in 10 years.
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