Team | Euro Currency Research

Independent experts on global financial markets and politics

Research Team

EDWARD MARKUS

MAARTEN SPEK

ANDY LANGENKAMP

HENK-JAN PIJPER

Edward Markus

Chief Analyst

After graduating in Economics at the Free University of Amsterdam, Eddy Markus spent a number of years honing his skills at some of the foremost financial institutions in Europe and USA as both a professional investor and an analyst. As well as his oft published macro views on the global financial markets, he developed a reputation for insightful observations on interest rate and currency developments in particular. Eddy is frequently invited to talk in various media outlets, both in the Netherlands and abroad. He is a regular contributor to both the Dutch finance daily Het Financieele Dagblad, the radio stations Radio 1 and BNR and various blogs. Eddy is fluent in Dutch and English.

Recent publications

Are central banks playing it safe, or are they taking risks?

Thursday, 7 February 2019

Is a scenario of major deficits and monetary acceleration inevitable?

Thursday, 24 January 2019

Maarten Spek

Financial Markets Analyst

Maarten joined ECR in 2006 and heads up our team of analysts. Graduating cum laude in International Economy from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, he has been a key driver at ECR in both increasing the research areas covered by the team but also fine-tuning the unique research method used here at ECR. Maarten’s initial work with the interest rate and currency market analysts, and his skill at combining both fundamental and chart technical approaches have led him to author our weekly G10 FX reports, currently read by over 28 Central Banks. He has also been working closely with Eddy and others to create the extensive suite of our popular Asset Allocation reports. He currently advises pension funds, asset managers and investors on macro-economic developments and their impact on financial markets. In his spare time Maarten regularly attends meetings of both the VBA and EFFAS European Bond Commission. He speaks fluent Dutch and English.

Recent publications

Too much pessimism regarding EMU

Monday, 18 February 2019

Eurozone economy continues to surprise to downside

Monday, 4 February 2019

Andy Langenkamp

Political Analyst

Andy is an internationally published political commentator, who specialises in assessing the repercussions for the financial markets of economic and geopolitical events. His weekly Global Political Analysis is one of our most subscribed publications and its inclusion as a stand alone research area is a testament to Andy’s excellent analysis. Andy gained his extensive experience working in the foreign affairs editorial team of the Dutch quality daily, Trouw. He holds a masters degree in International Organisations and International Relations and has completed his postgraduate studies at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations. Andy’s articles are regularly quoted in a huge number of well respected international publications including Het Financieele Dagblad, Knack in Belgium, The Guardian in the UK and The Hill in the US. He also writes columns and blogs for news outlets like The Huffington Post and Clear Real Politics and guests regularly on various radio shows.

Recent publications

A beleaguered Europe shoots itself in the foot

Thursday, 14 February 2019

Politics & economic fundamentals fighting for upper hand

Monday, 11 February 2019

Henk-Jan Pijper

Financial Markets Analyst

Henk-Jan has long been fascinated by the dynamics of financial markets and the influence of psychology on the behaviour of financial practitioners. He joined ECR Research in 2011 as a chart-technical specialist, using his vast experience to provide a balance with the fundamental research techniques also employed here. Not only does Henk-Jan analyse currency, interest rate and stock market developments but he is also the author of our unique ‘Markets to Watch’ reports as part of our Asset Allocation service. In 2002, Henk-Jan graduated in Economics for Rotterdam’s Erasmus University and specialised in Financial Markets and Investments. He additionally read Financial Economics both at Hofstra University, New York and Uppsala University. He went on, in 2004, to work as a trader for an internationally recognized hedge fund, before starting up his own successful business trading derivatives. He developed a strong reputation, not only for trading, but also for high potential trading strategies research and a market approach based on the technical-quantitative analysis of price and rate behavior. Information that has been invaluable in strengthening these aspects here at ECR.

Recent publications

Market Update & Calendar

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

Market Update & Calendar

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

RON MARKUS

EELCO UBBELS

CLAUDIA STARR

Ron Markus

Treasury Management & Market Outlook

With the company since its inception, Ron is the first point of call for ECR’s view on the financial markets, with a particular focus on interest rate and currency developments. Over the years, Ron has worked with, or advised, a large number of financial directors and majority shareholders within the European business community, introducing ECR’s services and providing concrete advice on how to best manage their risks.

Recent publications

British pound (GBP) Hedging Perspective

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

Brexit postponement would come down to prolonged uncertainty

Monday, 11 February 2019

Eelco Ubbels

Research partner

Eelco Ubbels is both Director and Owner of Alpha Research, an institute focused on producing market based Asset Allocation reports. The reports, brought about through a unique vision and discursive style, look in depth at both macro economic and asset allocation themes. As part of this discussion both negative and positive views are brought forwards in his detailed analysis. These reports are exclusively available to professional investors sitting on investment committees for pension funds, insurers and asset managers. Eelco has worked as an investment professional for over fifteen years with well known names like AXA IM, Sector Investment Managers and Petercam. His responsibilities have included the investment of mutual funds, pension funds and client mandates. Eelco is also highly active within the VBA (Dutch equivalent of the CFA) as the head of the tactical asset allocation committee. He has, in addition, founded the Tactical Asset Allocation group on Linked which, at over 2,600 members, is one of the site’s most active asset allocation groups.

Recent publications

Money Talks, Money Walks February 2019

Friday, 8 February 2019

Money Talks, Money Walks January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Claudia Starr

Research partner

Claudia Starr has 27 years experience in investment management and was previously Head of Research and managed Paneuropean and then US Equities for Shell Pension Fund in the Netherlands. Claudia works as an independent consultant providing research in global asset allocation and global equities portfolio strategy for brokerage firms, private wealth managers, family offices, pension funds and investment research firms. Claudia holds an M.Sc. in Operational Research from the London School of Economics and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Recent publications

Emerging Markets December 2018

Monday, 17 December 2018

Emerging Markets November 2018

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Client Support Team

MARIA THORVARDARDOTTIR

SILVANA OPFERMANN

MIKE SULLIVAN

ARIAN VERVERS

Maria Thorvardardottir

Sales Manager

Now heading up the sales team at ECR, Maria joined the company in 2004 as an account manager. Throughout the years at ECR she has not only expanded the sales team itself, but also presided over many of the improvements to the manner in which the service is delivered and the increasing breadth of reports offered by us. Under her guidance ECR has become, particularly in Europe, to be considered one of the foremost research houses and has welcomed on board many contributing writers as a result of her highly successful sales team. Maria got her bachelors in Business & Management Studies from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and spent some time working as a consultant before coming to ECR. As native of Iceland she speaks fluent Dutch, English and Icelandic.

Recent publications

Fund Selection Performance Review January 2019

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

Fund Selection Performance Review December 2018

Thursday, 27 December 2018

Silvana Opfermann

Account Manager & Client Relations

Silvana is one of the longest standing members of the ECR team, having been around since the beginning of 2013. She currently heads up the Client Relations division, managing our large international clients base, which she juggles with her role as head of the rapidly expanding German and Austrian markets. Silvana read Business and Economics at the University of Kassel with a specialisation in International Management and Marketing. A native German speaker, Silvana also speaks fluent English and has a working knowledge of Dutch.

Mike Sullivan

Senior Account Manager

With over 35 years of sales experience, and over 16 of those spent with ECR, Mike is one of the integral parts of the sales team. With an extensive international network of clients, ranging from central and investment banks, private wealth managers and mid to multinational companies, Mike works to maintain our excellent relationships with current clients, whilst also bringing on board a huge number of new companies. His expansive sales experience notwithstanding, Mike also has an in depth knowledge both of the financial markets and the global economy, making him ideally placed to understand our clients needs. Under his guidance, ECR has expanded its remit from treasurers and large corporate clients, to include all manner of professional investors and in doing so has helped shape ECR into one of Europe’s most respected independent research houses. Mike is fluent in both English and Dutch.

Arian Ververs

Managing Director

Arian joined the company in 1996, shortly after graduating in Economic, Public and Corporate Law from the University of Utrecht. In his early years at ECR Research, Arian successfully set up and ran the international sales department. Since 2002, as Managing Director, he has carried out the day-to-day management of the entire organization and as a ‘commercial driver’, he is steadily building on the organization’s growth and success. Arian is particularly interested in meeting professionals who, like him, see a growth market for independent advice on financial market risks. This can be in relation to strategic collaboration, product development, international expansion or a further career within ECR Research.