Easyjet will add six new destinations from Geneva, Basel and Zurich starting next summer. Geneva There will be new flights from Geneva to Tivat in Montenegro from 1 July 2017, running weekly until 2 September. Basel From Basel, two flights per week to Biarritz, in France, and to Dubrovnik, in Croatia, will be added and run from 28 […]
Archives for December 2016
Swiss banks probed at home over Brazil’s ‘Carwash’ bribe scandal
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The Switzerland attorney general’s office is shifting its focus to banks operating in the country as it continues to investigate Brazil’s bribery scandal, after plea deals with individual executives provided fresh insights into how the illicit funds flowed through the financial system. Attorney General Michael Lauber said in an […]
The Swiss commune that inspired a Nobel-prize-winning theory on communal ownership
A traditional village in the Upper Valais helped give the world two of the most influential modern ideas in sociology and environmental activism. The region’s also worth visiting for its breath-taking 300˚ view of the Alps, visible from the top of an amazing high marshland, and for a super restaurant 2048 metres up above the […]
Migros Bank could pass on negative interest rates
20 Minutes. Because of negative interest, even a savings account earning 0% interest is earning too much reckons the bank’s boss. Soon many banks will be passing on some of the cost of negative interest to their clients, reports 20 Minutes. Migros Bank will need to seriously consider doing the same in 2017. The bank’s boss Harald […]
Regular passenger trains start running through world’s longest train tunnel
Tribune de Genève. The world’s longest train tunnel (57km) now has trains running through it. After spending CHF 12.2 billion over 17 years the tunnel is now open for business. Regular passenger trains running between Zurich and Bellinzona will now get there around 30 minutes faster, in a total journey time of 1 hour and 38 […]
Swiss government plan to reduce doctors’ visits
20 Minutes. Some Swiss politicians would like to focus minds on the costs of going to the doctor to reduce the number going for the most minor of reasons. Their plan would require deductibles to rise annually in line with increases in the cost of basic health insurance. Higher deductibles, they think, would put people off […]
Swiss-based Glencore’s Rosneft deal reopens battle for Russian commodities
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. In the cutthroat world of commodities trading, there’s no bigger prize than Russia. The country of Vladimir Putin has it all: oil, natural gas, aluminum, nickel, wheat, coal and many other riches. The world’s biggest trading houses have jostled over it for decades. In recent years, Trafigura Group had […]
Uncertainty prevails everywhere, says Draghi, but apparently investors don’t mind
9 December 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. According to European Central Bank President Mario Draghi “uncertainty prevails everywhere” but apparently investors don’t mind. Market participants shrugged off last weekends “no” to constitutional reform in Italy and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to push European indices […]
Pension payments could become compulsory for self-employed in Switzerland
Switzerland’s Federal Council is looking at a proposal to make pension payments compulsory for self-employed workers in the same way that they are for salaried workers. In Switzerland there are three elements to pensions. A universal state pension, funded from social security payments, a second element, known as a second pillar, which is a pot […]
Swiss EU immigration – unfortunately there is no plan B, says president in interview
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Switzerland’s plan to solve an immigration dilemma with the European Union could avoid being held up by another referendum if it gets strong support in parliament next week, according to Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann. A clear result in a final vote on Dec. 16 with the Swiss People’s Party, […]