The deputy editor-in-chief’s weekly review

Apple was the first company in the history of the stock market to break the $ 3 trillion valuation. Some analysts even see the jump over the four billion mark as just a matter of time. Apple is the front runner, but the boom is affecting the entire industry. The US tech giants are going into the new year with a broad chest. Also because there are more and more technologically advanced products and features – from the super-smart smartphone to the hybrid metaverse.

And then, as can be seen above all at the world’s largest electronics fair, CES, there are more and more innovations that emerge across the boundaries of scientific disciplines and industries. For example when biotech or space travel and artificial intelligence merge.

My colleagues asked around, talked to researchers and identified 20 technology trends that will shape the year that has just begun – and in one way or another your life and work as well. You can find out what trends these are here.

What else has been on our minds this week:

1. From tech trends to the top jobs of tomorrow. Hundreds of thousands of IT experts, teachers and engineers will be missing in Germany by 2030: In the area of ​​information technology and data analysis alone, there will be over a million, as the graphic shows. For the Handelsblatt, the strategy consultancy BCG, together with the salary data exchange Salary.de, identified 35 job profiles in a detailed analysis that will be particularly in demand in 2030 – and promise high pay

2. One thing is clear: the shortage of skilled workers will slow down the economic recovery after the pandemic – as will climate protection. The post-corona boom is failing. The economists of the Handelsblatt Research Institute (HRI) are assuming 3.4 percent economic growth in Germany for 2022. That is 0.3 percent less than in the forecast from September. In 2020, the HRI had already shown itself to be more skeptical than other economic research institutes – and they were right. “From the middle of this year, the structural problems of the German economy will come to the fore again,” predicts HRI President Bert Rürup.

3. The federal and state governments fear an acute shortage of staff – especially in the critical infrastructure such as the police, fire brigade, practices, hospitals, gas, water and electricity supplies – because of the rapid spread of the Omikron variant. That is why yesterday’s group agreed with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the 16 prime ministers to shorten the quarantine. In addition, the 2G-Plus rule should apply nationwide in gastronomy, those who have recovered and those who have been vaccinated twice need a test. You can find an overview of the most important resolutions here.

4th When it comes to Corona, the Union has taken on the role of the opposition. In a specially prepared paper, the states led by the CDU and CSU demand that the federal government re-establish the epidemic situation, which can serve as the legal basis for stricter contact restrictions such as business and school closings. The designated CDU leader Friedrich Merz trims the party for opposition. To this end, as the Handelsblatt learned from party circles, he wants to fill the ranks of political leadership positions. The expectations are high – but so is the unrest. The social wing warns of Merz “Ultras”.

5. However, that is nothing compared to the unrest in Kazakhstan. The background to the crisis in the resource-rich Central Asian country is the high price increases that have led to massive protests. On Friday, the authoritarian ruling president even issued an order to shoot the demonstrators. Up to 15,000 soldiers from Russia and allied states are supposed to maintain order. Our correspondents have analyzed what the tensions in Kazakhstan mean for Russia, China and the USA.

6th In Germany and Europe, too, prices continue to rise, of course by no means with such drastic consequences. In December, the inflation rate in Germany was 5.3 percent, in the euro zone it was 5.0 percent, the highest level since the beginning of monetary union. My colleague Frank Wiebe states in his essay that the cause of high inflation and inflated national debt are almost always unsolved distribution problems. The eternal question is: who should pay for it?

7th Turnaround in interest rates and inflation are also forcing investment professionals to adjust their strategies for the stock market year 2022. Handelsblatt spoke to three well-known fund managers about how they navigate these difficult times. Bert Flossbach (Flossbach von Storch), Klaus Kaldemorgen (DWS) and Sonja Laud (LGIM) have one thing in common: They are all becoming more cautious.

8th. More than ten years of boom and a doubling of global prices since the Corona spring crash in 2020 have also made stocks expensive. This is especially true for the papers of the popular large companies, the “blue chips”. But a Handelsblatt calculation shows: There are still four inexpensive individual stocks and an attractive overall market. An analysis of 2,400 analyst assessments carried out by our investment expert Andreas Neuhaus reveals which ten stocks from the Dax, MDax and SDax will continue to rise this year.

9. And then there is Porsche. To secure the future of the iconic 911 sports car, the automaker is investing in a pilot plant for artificially produced gasoline. Porsche hopes to be able to continue building the cult car with e-fuels even in the age of electromobility – and not only that. There are currently around 1.3 billion vehicles with internal combustion engines in the world, says Porsche Purchasing Manager Barbara Frenkel: “Until this one Is replaced by electric cars, many years will pass. “

I wish you a relaxing weekend.

sincerely
your

Kirsten Ludowig

Deputy Editor-in-Chief Handelsblatt

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