Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Deep in the Swiss Alps, next to an old airstrip suitable for landing Gulfstream and Falcon jets, is a vast bunker that holds what may be one of the world’s largest stashes of gold. The entrance, protected by a guard in a bulletproof vest, is a small metal door […]
Archives for September 2016
Begging banned in Swiss canton of Vaud
Le Matin. The canton of Vaud decided to ban begging after the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) launched an initiative to make it illegal. Vaud’s state government voted in favour of the move on Tuesday, by 60 votes for, 56 against, and 5 abstentions, according to the newspaper Le Matin. A referendum would achieve nothing further. […]
Switzerland’s best paid bosses
Le Matin. The Ethos Foundation recently published a list of Switzerland’s highest paid employees in 2015. The figures are striking and may leave some wondering what someone would do with such large sums. Ethos looks at the pay of the managers of the 204 largest companies listed on the Swiss stock exchange. Ethos‘ members are Swiss […]
Swiss stocks slump on Deutsche Bank trouble
30 September 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The Swiss Market Index is set to finish the week notably lower, underperforming global stocks, as financial sector stocks sell off on questions over Deutsche Bank’s solvency. Global equities edged lower this week with European financials among the biggest losers after […]
Vancouver tops list of cities at risk of housing bubble. Zurich 9, Geneva 11.
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Natalie Obiko Pearson and Katia Dmitrieva, writing for Bloomberg, look at the UBS 2016 Global Real Estate Bubble Index report. While Switzerland’s two main cities, Zurich and Geneva, are not described as having “Bubble risk” they are in the next category: “Overvalued”. Vancouver, London and Stockholm rank as the […]
Forget this and you risk getting fined in France
According to Tribune de Genève, one unlucky Swiss resident was fined in Gaillard in neighbouring France for using the wrong parking disk. They were fined 17 euros, despite not overstaying. Swiss rules require drivers to set their arrival time to the nearest half hour after their arrival. Someone arriving at 8:36 should set their disk […]
From Saturday, foreigners breaking the law risk expulsion
Tribune de Genève. A new law to deport foreign criminals comes into force on 1 October 2016. Geneva’s judiciary fears an explosion in the number of cases. In 2010, a referendum put forward by the Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP), was accepted by 52.9% of voters. This Saturday it comes into effect. This means anyone who […]
World-renowned dinosaurs move into Geneva’s Natural History Museum
From 24 September 2016 until 12 March 2017, Geneva’s natural history museum will echo with roars from the past. Dinosaurs from around the world will be exhibited over 1,000 m2 of floor space. Several world-renowned fossils have been brought together for the first time. Some come from a remarkable collection from Wyoming in the US, unearthed by a […]
Swiss parliament allows retirement age to go to 67
Switzerland’s parliament voted today on whether the official retirement age should be allowed to rise to 67. With 106 votes for, and 90 against, the National Council approved a plan to deal with the financial challenges of providing pensions in an era with more old people who are living longer. The plan includes automatic hikes in […]
Swiss-based imam approves of niqab ban
20 Minutes. According to 20 Minutes, Bern-based imam Mustafa Memeti approves of the Swiss parliament approving a plan to ban full veils across the nation. Others are still unsure. Yesterday, Switzerland’s National Council accepted, with 88 votes for and 87 votes against, to ban the wearing of burkas and niqabs nationwide. The imam’s comments and those from […]