Risk & Resilience

In the digital age, brand reputation is more vulnerable than ever. Viral misinformation—false or misleading information rapidly spread via social media, news outlets, or messaging platforms—poses a significant threat to companies of all sizes and industries. Even unintentional misrepresentations can erode consumer trust, trigger regulatory scrutiny, and lead to long-term financial and reputational damage. Brands that fail to monitor, anticipate, and respond to misinformation risk amplified negative impacts. This report examines the mechanisms of viral misinformation, its impact on brand perception, and strategies to protect corporate reputation in 2025 and beyond.

Europe’s insurance sector is proving resilient in an increasingly unsettled world but the clouds are not lifting. According to the January 2026 Insurance Risk Dashboard published on Thursday by European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority, overall risks in the European insurance market remain stable at a medium level, even as persistent geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on the broader economic and market outlook.

In its newly released Risks in BaFin’s Focus report, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority cautioned that record-high valuations, geopolitical tension, and fast-moving financial innovation are combining in ways that could test financial stability in 2026. The watchdog pointed to a growing risk of abrupt market corrections, even as banks and insurers continue to report solid profits and strong capital positions.

A week after publishing my first reflections on the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026, I find myself returning to the same unease that prompted that first piece—not because the report needs more explanation, but because the initial reaction to it already feels familiar.

In its Agenda 2026, the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets signaled a tougher, more hands-on supervisory stance as technology reshapes financial markets and financial crime risks continue to evolve. The priorities include closer scrutiny of artificial intelligence, more intensive supervision of cyber resilience under EU rules, and a sharper, more targeted approach to investment fraud and money laundering.

The world is entering the second half of a turbulent decade with little sense of calm on the horizon. That is the underlying message of the orld Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2026, which paints a picture of rising uncertainty, weakening cooperation, and intensifying competition across geopolitics, economics, technology, society, and the environment.

China’s market rally is starting to make regulators uneasy. As the country’s benchmark stock index hovers near a decade high, authorities have moved to signal that they are watching closely and are prepared to step in if speculative excesses continue, according to Reuters.