Capitalism stands accused of all kinds of social and environmental transgressions and of milking society rather than nourishing it. Capitalism is in crisis and has to reinvent itself.

The outlook is grim and political leaders have at last gauged the magnitude of the problems they face. This should make the markets less unpredictable.

On 30 January 2012 the Board of Directors of Edmond de Rothschild Real Estate SICAV (the “SICAV”) resolved to increase the capital of the SICAV’s subfund Edmond de Rothschild Real Estate SICAV - Swiss by CHF 100 million from the end of the first quarter of 2012.

Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild has signed a three-year contract to become main sponsor of the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, an endorsement based on shared values such as innovation and a passion for craftsmanship, teamwork and excellence. The Grand Prix brings together all the big names in watchmaking and is a highlight of life in Geneva.

The bull run that began in 2009 has been the US stockmarket's most dramatic rally by far of the post-war period.

Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild Group continued to grow last year despite the tough economic and stockmarket environment. Net profit rose 9.6% to CHF 149.9 million.

As 2011 got under way Asia’s robust growth, ebbing US unemployment and the subsiding euro crisis still left room to hope for an improving economic outlook. And yet, seemingly overnight, the horizon has darkened again.

10 March 2011, Edmond de Rothschild Group received in New York the award of Group of The Year at the InvestHedge Awards 2010 for its alternative range of funds of hedge funds.

The new year kicked off with more than fireworks over the Bay of Sidney. Other, more ominous fires broke out on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean

Basel was in the news in mid-September as central bankers from around the world met there to overhaul the rules on how banks are to function in the future. For such a solemn occasion the atmosphere was rather similar to Basel’s winter carnival, with plenty of noise and parading. For once the usual suspects were not hiding behind a pretty mask. Even Germany was forced to shed the guise of orthodoxy to defend its floundering Landesbanken.

May lived up to its reputation as a good month to sell and go away. Equities and many segments of fixed-income pulled back sharply, with sovereign debt again serving as a safe haven. Haven?

The Investment Fund Dept of Banque Privée Edmond de Rothschild SA hosted a conference on 1 June on developments in hedge funds industry.