
AI-generated summary
The German summit organized by Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche brings together leading representatives from business and the media to discuss Germany's competitiveness.
Dusseldorf. At the German summit held by Handelsblatt and Wirtschaftswoche, VW boss Oliver Blume, BASF boss Markus Kamieth and Allianz boss Oliver Bäte discussed with Horst von Buttlar, editor-in-chief of Wirtschaftswoche, how Germany can become more competitive again and what measures are necessary to secure future growth and prosperity.
All three called for a “collaboration” between politics and business with clear, reliable framework conditions instead of constant changes of course. Looking at the state and bureaucracy, Bäte made it clear: "It would be nice if he got out of the way. We always talk about other regulations. How about none?"
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The demands for less bureaucracy and clear framework conditions are being taken up in political discussions.
Likely · Within months

Stock markets in Asia posted their second consecutive weekly loss, weighed down by high energy prices, bond market turmoil and heavy investment in artificial intelligence. The MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index fell 0.16 percent, while the Nikkei in Tokyo fell 0.8 percent to 68,512 points. SoftBank Group, a major OpenAI investor, lost 5.4 percent. Investors are reacting nervously to OpenAI sales figures that are $20 billion below expectations.

In Sandesneben near Hamburg, unmarked white vans advise women affected by violence directly on site, as a permanent counseling center in the village would be too conspicuous. The Land-Grazien organization, founded in 2020 by Miriam Peters, has grown quickly and moved into the office six months ago to clarify financial issues. She encountered high account fees and derogatory comments from banks, even though private non-profit organizations held a total of 74 billion euros in banks at the end of 2025, of which 45 billion were in interest-free sight accounts.

SpaceX has acquired a nationwide portfolio of low-frequency spectrum from Grain Management to offer cellular connectivity directly to smartphones via Starlink satellites. The purchase overcomes a technical hurdle for satellite-based networks because low frequencies penetrate obstacles better. The FCC still has to approve the deal. The plans caused unrest on the stock market as investors feared a price war in the saturated US mobile phone market. Shares of T-Mobile US, Verizon and AT&T fell more than five percent in after-hours trading.

Rising bond yields worldwide are putting pressure on highly indebted countries, especially in Europe and the USA. France's national debt surpasses Italy's as confidence in US fiscal policy wanes. Experts warn of a new debt crisis and financial repression.

Bonds issued by French companies with good credit ratings are currently trading at lower yields than French government bonds, while weaker borrowers bear higher interest burdens. The reversal of the traditional risk relationship shows that investors evaluate companies and states differently.

In an interview with Handelsblatt, Ifo President Clemens Fuest warns of an intensification of the bond crisis and a return of the euro crisis with France at the center. He says the era of extremely low interest rates is over due to inflation, energy shortages and the AI boom, and believes financial repression is likely.