
AI-generated summary
Der Deutschland-Gipfel von Handelsblatt und Wirtschaftswoche bringt führende Vertreter von Wirtschaft und Medien zusammen, um über die Wettbewerbsfähigkeit Deutschlands zu diskutieren.
Düsseldorf. Beim Deutschland-Gipfel von Handelsblatt und Wirtschaftswoche haben VW-Chef Oliver Blume, BASF-Chef Markus Kamieth und Allianz-Chef Oliver Bäte mit Horst von Buttlar, dem Chefredakteur der Wirtschaftswoche, darüber diskutiert, wie Deutschland wieder wettbewerbsfähiger werden kann und welche Maßnahmen notwendig sind, um künftiges Wachstum und Wohlstand zu sichern.
Alle drei forderten einen „Schulterschluss“ zwischen Politik und Wirtschaft mit klaren, verlässlichen Rahmenbedingungen statt ständigem Kurswechsel. Mit Blick auf den Staat und Bürokratie wurde Bäte deutlich: „Wäre schön, wenn er aus dem Weg geht. Wir reden immer über andere Regulierungen. Wie wäre es mit keiner?"
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Die Forderungen nach weniger Bürokratie und klaren Rahmenbedingungen werden in politischen Diskussionen aufgegriffen.
Likely · Within months

In Germany, only 52 percent of employees subject to social insurance contributions receive a company pension plan, especially in large corporations. Experts are calling for more widespread coverage, inspired by models in the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. The second law to strengthen company pension schemes since January 2026 is intended to support low-income earners and small and medium-sized companies in particular. The importance of company pensions is growing in view of the shortage of skilled workers and the retirement of the baby boomer generation.

The German financial regulator Bafin has imposed a fine of 1.2 million euros on Volkswagen because the company is said to have failed to publish a positive financial forecast for 2023 on an ad-hoc basis. VW can file an objection.

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.