Economy

A new study from ING reveals that many Dutch homeowners are hesitant to invest in green energy due to confusing government regulations. While many want to reduce their bills and help the climate, high costs and the end of certain subsidies remain significant hurdles.

The implementation of the trade deal between the European Union and the United States has moved a step closer. Last summer, the European Commission and the US government agreed that the US would apply a general tariff of 15 percent to most European products. Conversely, there will be no increased tariffs and Brussels itself will scrap tariffs. These proposals still need to be ratified but do a general direction of the trade agreement.

Partly due to the escalation of the war between the US and Israel against Iran, stock traders fear that the conflict will drag on for a long time. A situation of high inflation slowing economic growth is what market experts fear.

The research institute Imec has received a groundbreaking new machine from ASML that will allow for the development of the world's smallest chips. This installation in Leuven aims to pioneer the next generation of hardware for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Experts expect the system to be fully operational by the end of 2026.

ASML has proposed a new social plan to support 1,400 employees facing redundancy in the Netherlands, offering double the usual transition pay. However, trade unions have criticised the move, blaming the job cuts on years of poor organisational management. The plan now awaits a decision from the company's works council.

Dutch civil servants are preparing for a massive national strike on 14 April to protest a freeze on their wages. The walkout follows months of smaller actions and aims to highlight the growing pressure on public services and staff recruitment.

Markets on Wall Street started the week in positive territory as investors looked ahead to a key interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve. The central bank is expected to hold rates steady amid uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East. Technology stocks were among the main gainers, led by Meta and Nvidia.

The OECD says the war in the Middle East is creating major risks for global growth, though the full effects remain unclear. Rising energy prices could fuel inflation and pressure central banks to keep interest rates high. New forecasts from the ECB and the Federal Reserve may soon shed more light on the situation.