ACHS

Goldman Sachs says about 80% of ultra-high-net-worth investors are reducing stock exposure and moving money into alternative assets rather than bonds. The bank's findings point to private markets, real assets and other alternatives as the preferred destination for wealthy portfolios. The shift suggests rich investors are seeking diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds, a signal analysts say could matter for broader market sentiment and asset allocations.

State election officials in Saxony-Anhalt are facing questions over whether the state election must be held again following allegations of illegal campaign financing. German media report the affair could have legal consequences for the vote's validity, with debate now centring on possible repeat elections and the political fallout in the state.

Goldman Sachs is preparing to launch a retail voting programme that would allow individual investors to cast votes at company shareholder meetings, extending a practice traditionally reserved for institutional asset managers. The initiative, reported by Responsible Investor, signals a broader push to give retail shareholders a direct voice in corporate governance decisions.

The SEC has given the go-ahead to Goldman Sachs' proposed program that lets retail investors receive voting instructions on proxy matters through the bank. The approval clears the way for the initiative to move forward, giving ordinary shareholders a new channel for directing how their votes are cast on corporate governance issues.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD's state leader Martin Stahl has moved to postpone the election of a new Minister-President candidate, a step reported by BILD as a significant internal delay. The move puts the spotlight on the state party's leadership contest and its plans ahead of the next state election, with the far-right party polling strongly in the region.

Attention on Goldman Sachs is focused on its succession planning for David Solomon's eventual replacement. CNBC reports that the bank's CEO succession planning faces one big problem, while Bloomberg says the heir apparent faces a tough task keeping deputies happy. The coverage suggests internal tensions over who will lead and how rivals within the executive ranks are being managed.

Goldman Sachs has flagged SpaceX in one of its growth screens, drawing attention because the rocket company remains privately held and its shares are not listed on any public exchange. The mention has fueled discussion about investor interest in SpaceX and the broader appetite for exposure to private space companies through secondary markets.

The ARD crime series WaPo Elbe is starting a new season, opening with a case centred on the murder of a jeweller. The series, set in Pirna in Saxony and following the work of the river police along the Elbe, is drawing attention among German television viewers as broadcast details emerge.

A runner shared a morning update describing a regular 12km run to close the week and mark the start of a new month. The routine included a 1km walk to warm up before running from the bottom of a hill. They reported a lower left back ache for the first 4km, which they attributed to the previous day's strength and conditioning workout.

Tesla and Goldman Sachs have announced new "voting instruction plans" aimed at retail shareholders. The plans are intended to make it easier for individual investors to instruct how their shares are voted at company meetings. Few further details are available, and it is not yet clear how the arrangement will work in practice or what prompted the move.

Goldman Sachs has automated the voting options available to retail investors, according to Private Banker International. The move means individual shareholders can have their proxy votes processed and submitted without manual handling. Details on the technology used, rollout scope and client adoption were not provided, and Goldman Sachs has not publicly commented beyond the announcement.

Niners Chemnitz have claimed their first victory, though it was a nervy affair that went down to the wire, with German reports describing the team as 'zittern sich zum ersten Sieg' - trembling their way to the win. The result gives the Saxony side their opening points in the Basketball Bundesliga and lifts early-season pressure after a difficult start.

A nature photographer has published a new image titled "Wege, wie ich sie mag" (Paths as I like them), showing a view through hanging branches onto a large open area overgrown with different grasses and wild plants, framed by trees and bushes on both sides, with birds crossing a grey, cloudy sky. The picture is part of ongoing wildlife and landscape photography being shared with a German-speaking audience.

A German commentary is circulating arguing that society has lost the ability to argue with people we disagree with. It contrasts the past, when ten adults could share ten opinions around one grill without tools to block each other, with today, when a single misplaced 'like' can end a friendship before the sausages are even cooked. The author calls for a return to debate followed by reconciliation.

A technical explainer is circulating on ACH return codes, breaking down what R01 (insufficient funds), R03 (no account or unable to locate) and R10 (customer advises unauthorized) mean when a payout fails. The piece walks developers and fintech teams through how to interpret each code and what handling steps to take, from retrying payments to verifying account details.

Sean Flood is leaving German Basketball Bundesliga club Mitteldeutscher BC with immediate effect to move to Italy, according to a report from Saxony-Anhalt. The early departure cuts short his stint with the club, and fans are discussing what the move means for MBC's squad depth as the season continues.

A discussion tagged around climate protection, economic growth, democracy and human rights is circulating in German-speaking social media circles, drawing modest engagement globally. The tags together suggest debate over whether climate policy, economic expansion and democratic rights can be reconciled, a recurring tension in European political conversation. Specific claims or events behind the discussion remain unstated.

Law firm Akin has hired Neil DuChez, previously a lawyer at Goldman Sachs, as a technology transactions partner based in New York. The move strengthens the firm's technology practice, adding someone with in-house experience at a major bank at a time when demand for tech transaction and licensing legal work continues to grow.

The actress who played the cruel stepmother in the Korean drama 'Stairway to Heaven' has recalled filming a harsh slapping scene with a young Park Shin-hye, saying her heart ached at having to strike the child star. The reminiscence about the 2003 K-drama is drawing attention from fans of the classic series.

Payment industry coverage highlights that money movement operates on different clocks: instant payment networks process in seconds, while card networks, ACH and wire systems settle on batch schedules that can lag by hours or days. Five key points outline how these timing mismatches affect businesses managing cash flow, settlement risk and reconciliation, and why faster rails have not yet made payments uniformly instant.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Berlin, where he promoted his country's wealth of raw materials. German companies are seeking to expand their business in Central Asia, putting them in sharp competition with Russia, China, the United States and other powers for influence and access to the resource-rich region.

Goldman Sachs is preparing a leadership transition, with president John Waldron emerging as the leading candidate to succeed David Solomon as chief executive, possibly by late 2027 or 2028. Waldron warned as early as 2021 about growing client demand for Bitcoin, and is currently credited with driving the bank's efficiency push using artificial intelligence.

The comedy 'Lucy Schulman', directed by Ellie Sachs and starring David Cross, Thomas Mann and Hasan Minhaj, has secured a release. The Hollywood Reporter reported the news exclusively, though details on the distributor and release date were not given. The film brings together well-known comedy and drama talent, drawing attention to Sachs as a director to watch.

Goldman Sachs has selected six top stock picks in the European media and internet sector, drawing on insights from recent industry conferences. The bank's analysts highlighted favoured companies after meetings with management teams, offering investors a curated shortlist of the sector's most attractive opportunities.

Goldman Sachs has launched a retail voting initiative, per Private Banker International. Details on how the scheme will work or which clients it targets were not immediately provided. The move points to growing attention on retail investors' say in corporate governance, and it is likely to draw scrutiny of how the bank will represent small shareholders' votes.

Goldman Sachs is preparing to launch a voting instruction program aimed at retail shareholders, according to a report by Pulse2. The initiative would help individual investors navigate and act on corporate proxy votes, a process historically dominated by institutional investors. Details on timing, partners and scope have not yet been made public.