Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Swiss banks focused on property lending are taking more risks to compensate for the impact of record-low interest rates, increasing the threat of a real-estate bubble, Swiss National Bank Vice President Fritz Zurbruegg said. “Exceptionally low interest rates are putting pressure on interest rate margins and this is weighing […]
Richemont cuts send shockwaves from Geneva to mountain valleys
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Richemont’s plan to slash 210 watchmaking jobs in Switzerland is sending shockwaves from Geneva to some of the country’s remote mountain villages, the cradle of high-end watch manufacturing. In Le Sentier, a town perched in the middle of the Jura mountain range, straddling the border between France and Switzerland, […]
Geneva votes for limited Sunday shop opening
Today, voters in the canton of Geneva were asked whether shops should remain closed on Sundays and public holidays. The cantonal initiative called “Touche pas à mes dimanches!”, which was put forward by the unions, the Socialist party and others, was rejected in favour of a parliamentary counterproposal which allows shops to open on 31 […]
Zurich rejects plan to limit marriage to heterosexuals
Today, voters in the canton of Zurich were asked whether marriage should be restricted to heterosexual couples. The cantonal initiative called “Schutz der Ehe”, which was put forward by the Federal Democratic Union party (EDU/UDF), was resoundingly rejected. 81% of voters were opposed to it. On their website EDU said their fight to restrict marriage, […]
Swiss vote against early closure of nuclear power stations
Today, Swiss voted on whether to accelerate the closure of the nation’s five nuclear reactors. The government’s existing plan to exit nuclear power generation involves shutting down all five reactors at the end of their safe lifesspans, which it estimates to be 50 years. This would mean closing them all between 2019 and 2034. Under […]
Geneva and Vaud vote for early shutdown of Switzerland’s nuclear reactors
Today, Swiss voted on whether to accelerate the closure of the nation’s five nuclear reactors. The government’s existing plan to exit nuclear power generation involves initiating the shutdown of all five reactors between 2019 and 2034. Under the nuclear initiative, voted on today, shutdown would be accelerated, starting in 2017 with the last closure starting […]
Swiss stocks down as the US dollar hits decade high
25 November 2016 – Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. Swiss pharmaceutical and luxury goods giants pulled the Swiss Market Index (SMI) down again this week as investors dropped large cap firms. Global stocks however continued to rise, along with energy prices, on the promise of Trump’s reflationary administration. The US dollar […]
Swiss fact: women were the majority in Switzerland’s cabinet from 2010 to 2012
In September 2010, Simonetta Sommaruga was elected to Switzerland’s seven member executive. She joined Micheline Calmy-Rey, Doris Leuthard and Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf along with three male members: Didier Burkhalter, Ueli Maurer and Johann Schneider-Ammann, creating the first female executive majority since the creation of the Federal Council in 1848. All four of these women have served as […]
World’s highest basketball shot videoed at Swiss dam
Guinness World Records recently recorded the world’s highest basketball shot. This video shows the 180.968 m (593.73 ft) shot from the top of the Mauvoisin Dam in Valais, Switzerland. The How Ridiculous gang, Brett Stanford, Derek Herron and Scott Gaunson, from Australia, managed to get the ball through the hoop on their third attempt. Derek Herron, […]
Steep price increases for Swiss Rail passengers despite deflation
Today, Swiss Rail announced big price increases on some tickets and passes. The new prices will apply from 11 December 20161. According to the Swiss government consumer price index, average prices declined by 2.1% between October 2010 and October 20162. Over the same six years, from December 20103 to December 2016, the price of a […]
