China: The End of the Growth Miracle?
A Historic Signal from Beijing: China has set its lowest growth target in decades for 2026: Gross domestic product is expected to grow by 4.5 to 5 percent. The last time a target of 4.5 percent was set as the lower limit was in 1991. This is more than just a number—it’s a signal. The real estate crisis and weak consumer spending as […]
Oil Prices Caught in the Grip of the War in Iran
The Strait of Hormuz — a bottleneck for the global economy. As military tensions in the Middle East began to escalate, the price of Brent crude oil climbed toward $120 per barrel — a level last reached in July 2022 during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The cause: an extreme scenario that analysts had been warning about since the Hamas attack on […]
When Others Speak Well of You: Why Trust Is Crucial in Professional Trading
The Best Advertising Comes from Trust The most pleasant and effective form of advertising is when others speak highly of you. This statement holds particular significance in the financial industry. After all, trust cannot be forced. It does not arise from loud advertising messages, short-term promises of returns, or superficial claims about performance. Trust is built on substance. It arises from […]
Market Commentary, April 2026
Systematic FX Strategies in a Volatile Market Environment The global macroeconomic environment remained under significant pressure in April. The IMF lowered its growth forecast for the global economy in 2026 to 3.1%, while the World Bank expects energy prices to rise by 24%. Brent briefly traded at $126, and the Strait of Hormuz remained a key geopolitical risk factor […]
Tradition Meets Innovation at the 56th Ulm TOP LOUNGE
Continuity and quality are the cornerstones of our work. That is why it was a special honor for our Director, Linus Schmidt, and Virginia Kopp (Senior Sales) to accept the personal invitation to the 56th Ulm TOP LOUNGE. Our relationship with Top Magazin Ulm/Neu-Ulm has grown over the years—1000FTAD has already had the opportunity to provide in-depth insights in two feature articles there […]
1000FTAD Insight — Networking at the Highest Level at the IBC Zurich Kick-off
Dear friends and business partners of 1000FTAD, we are pleased to announce a special milestone in our network today. Our director, Linus Schmidt, was invited by his longtime business friend and partner Martin Blättler, president of the Business Club, to become a member of the newly established International Business Club Zurich (IBC-Zurich). A club for decision-makers […]
The world's fiscal buffers are shrinking
In addition to growth, inflation, and interest rates, government debt is once again taking center stage. The IMF describes the global fiscal situation as increasingly strained: Global public debt stood at 93.9% of global GDP in 2025 and, according to current projections, is heading toward 100% of global GDP by 2028. Less room to maneuver in the event of a crisis. This means […]
Regulation is now in effect—not at some point in the future
In the European financial and technology sectors, regulation is no longer just an abstract topic for the future. DORA has been in effect since January 17, 2025, and requires financial firms to organize their digital operational resilience in a structured manner—that is, to systematically manage ICT risks, outages, dependencies on third-party providers, and reporting processes. EU AI Act: Progressive, but Binding At the same time, the EU AI […]
Artificial intelligence is no longer a topic for the future—it is now a reality in business operations
The adoption of AI in businesses has crossed a threshold beyond which it can no longer be referred to as a pilot project. According to Eurostat, by 2025, 20.0% of EU companies with at least ten employees were already using AI technologies in their business operations. Among large companies, the share was as high as 55.03%. From Innovation Project to Operational Standard AI is thus no longer just […]
The FX market is cross-border, institutional, and concentrated
63% of revenue, 4 locations, a global network. The global foreign exchange market is highly internationalized. According to the BIS, in April 2025, approximately 63% of global FX turnover consisted of cross-border transactions. At the same time, 50% of the total volume was attributable to transactions with “other financial institutions”—such as funds, insurers, pension funds, or other non-bank financial players. Institutional investors alone accounted for […]
