Felix Wagner 
The German savings banks (Sparkassen) have added a new securities product named S-Neo to their digital platform, allowing customers to trade mutual funds and shares directly through the app. Nearly all 338 Sparkassen are participating, offering the service at a uniform price and expressing high expectations for its success.
JP Morgan co‑president Doug Petno told Handelsblatt that capital markets are in a golden era, foresees a sustained bull market and believes concerns that AI investments may not pay off are unfounded.
Investors are already betting on a new generation of AI. Venture capitalist Moritz Baier-Lentz argues that video games could be crucial for the next AI breakthrough and reveals the two startups he is investing in.
BaFin is set to review Dermapharm’s dealings with the Reppegather brothers after a claim of roughly one million euros and alleged breaches of accounting rules were reported, posing a problem for pharma billionaire Beier.
Lakestar’s founder announced a new $300 million resilience fund to support European companies developing dual‑use and defence technologies, highlighting concerns about Europe’s reliance on U.S. tech providers.
Neodigital, a digital insurtech company, has surrendered its BaFin insurance license. This follows a broader trend where multiple digital technology companies have returned their BaFin licenses, marking the end of an era in the insurtech sector.
The German Federal Ministry of Finance faces growing pressure as the planned launch of a state-backed private pension savings account (Altersvorsorgedepot) scheduled for January 1, 2027 encounters implementation challenges. Banks and brokers indicate they are behind schedule, raising doubts about whether the government’s timeline can be met.
N26, a European neobank, has had a turbulent year and released its 2025 business figures showing customer growth that fell short of expectations. The company also announced personnel changes in its management board.
KfW’s leadership is advocating for closer integration between German mid-market companies and venture capital investments, framing this approach as a strategic formula for enhancing Germany’s economic growth and international competitiveness. This strategy will influence KfW’s promotional lending policies.
Germany’s Kenfo, the state fund for financing nuclear waste disposal (Fonds zur Finanzierung der kerntechnischen Entsorgung), has delivered surprisingly high returns benefiting from the stock market rally. The fund is now drawing significant attention in the context of the German government’s pension reform plans.