Facebook has launched Like’s five new siblings: Love; Haha; Wow; Sad; Angry. Together they are known as Reactions. The global launch took place on 24 February 2016. Facebook Product Manager Sammi Krug, said “We have been testing Reactions in a few markets since last year, and have received positive feedback so far. Today, we’re excited […]
How Switzerland brings far more than neutrality to international affairs
This week Renu Chahil-Graf interviews Switzerland’s UN Ambassador Alexandre Fasel. Alexandre talks about what Switzerland brings to international affairs and what lies behind it. During the interview he shows how he embodies it. A Walk in the Park with Ambassador Alexandre Fasel: Switzerland’s UN representative and Keeper of the Flame of International Geneva. Switzerland’s ambassador in […]
Swiss franc rises on ‘Brexit’ angst
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Once again, Switzerland is getting saddled with unwanted currency appreciation due to other nations’ struggles. The franc posted its biggest gain since August against the euro as concern that the U.K. may exit the European Union dragged down the pound and with it the 19-nation shared currency. China’s decision to cut […]
Why the new Swiss bank notes are set to become even more sought after
Swiss money is about to change. On 12 April 2016, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) will put a new 50-franc note into circulation. The new 20-franc note will be released the following year, and the other four denominations – 10, 100, 200 and 1,000, at half-yearly or yearly intervals after this date, with the last hitting […]
Foreigners scramble to apply for Swiss passports
Le Matin. Towns in the canton of Zurich have been overwhelmed with citizenship applications over the last few weeks. Some like Uster have seen applications increase 5-fold. What’s behind this sharp spike? According to the Tages-Anzeiger, the recent initiative due for vote on 28 February 2016, that could see over 10,000 foreign criminals deported from […]
How football and a piano transformed the life of an Afghan family in Geneva
Award winning Swiss-based Afghan poet and author Bashir Sakhawarz describes how football and a grand piano changed his family’s life. Our children were very young when we first arrived in Geneva, not as refugees but because of our careers. They were exposed to the French language in kindergarten and then in the local Swiss primary […]
Swiss share market up despite continued decline in sentiment
19 February 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The SMI is set to close higher this week tracking gains of global equity markets. The SMI recovered almost a third of its year to date losses this week on higher oil prices, hopes of new Chinese economic stimulus and a […]
Freelance working on the rise in Switzerland
According to a new study by Deloitte, one in four people in Switzerland works as a freelancer and another 25% would like to next year. Technology and the internet are the main drivers behind the trend. The shift to knowledge intensive careers is allowing greater mobility. 28% already work at least half a day a […]
Swiss watch exports drop further in January
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Swiss watch exports slid for the seventh consecutive month as plummeting stocks and slowing economies damped demand for luxury timepieces in their main markets. The two biggest destinations for Swiss watch exports — Hong Kong and the U.S. — were almost exclusively responsible for the global downturn, the Federation […]
Nestle sees continued sales slowdown
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Nestle SA forecasts 2016 sales below analyst estimates, increasing pressure on Chief Executive Officer Paul Bulcke to find new areas of growth as he enters the home stretch of his tenure. Revenue growth will be similar to last year’s 4.2 percent on an organic basis, itself the slowest pace […]
