Another week like this for stock market speculators who bet on rising or falling prices. Open the Strait of Hormuz – close the Strait of Hormuz! Let’s see how many times this happens again. For predictable economic planning, this is poison. For gamblers, it can lead to great wealth. The American President’s friends will soon have to finance quite a few things – in return ... read more
Another Monday, and with it a whole host of uncertainties that are slowly but surely beginning to have a significant impact on people’s travel habits. Art fairs are still taking place – those in Paris, Palma and Chicago have just come to an end. It remains to be seen, however, whether the Art Cologne spin-off in Palma, held a week before Art Düsseldorf, was able ... read more
Our Christmas cards are meant to tell stories – at least, that is the wish of our photographer, Mike Christian. The latest one illustrates a generational change. We are delighted that Ole Petter Börgers, has been appointed by our shareholder Attikon AG Managing Director of Zilkens Fine Art Insurance Broker GmbH with effect from 1 April 2026. As an art historian with additional training in ... read more
Travel broadens the mind – an old saying with a fair bit of truth to it. So now, Paris! When you haven’t been there for about six years, the sense of wonder at the changes is all the greater. Notre Dame is standing again, thank goodness. Traffic flows above ground – but only for taxis now. A 30 km/h speed limit and extensive cycle lanes ... read more
Some organisations are taking a bold approach, whilst others are exercising caution. Among the latter is Art Dubai, which has now postponed its event and appears set to present art to the public in a different format. Among the former is IFASIC (International Fine Art & Specie Insurance Conferences), which is sticking to its scheduled date in October 2026 in Marrakech. You can already register ... read more
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran and Iraq are all located on the Persian Gulf; they produce oil and gas and account for 25–30% of global oil trade (approximately 20 million barrels per day), which must pass through the Strait of Hormuz. There is a pipeline through Saudi Arabia (which bypasses Yemen and ensures supply as long as the Suez ... read more