A recent study from Lausanne’s EPFL published in the British Medical Journal Open shows that not all city addresses are equal when it comes to waistlines. Those living in west Lausanne are much more likely to be obese than those in the east. Even after controlling for differences in wealth, education, age and other factors, belt lengths […]
2016 predictions from Happy Valley
This week the Happy Valley correspondent makes solemn predictions for 2016. 1. More departures. Expect more multinationals to depart or trim staff as the franc remains strong, and company tax deals come closer to their end dates. Add to that the possibility of further own-goals relating to all things foreign. 2. More damaging referendum outcomes. […]
The Swiss bank of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ pays big to avoid US prosecution
Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The Swiss bank used by the convicted con man known as “The Wolf of Wall Street” agreed to pay almost $188 million to avoid prosecution for helping U.S. clients avoid taxes through such methods as providing untraceable gold bars and cash. Union Bancaire Privée helped hide assets from the […]
Is Switzerland the world’s most expensive country? It is for Big Macs.
On 5 January 2016, the Economist came out with its latest Big Mac index. Also known as the burger benchmark, the index compares the price of a Big Mac around the world. This catchy, if highly incomplete means of comparing the relative purchasing power of different currencies, uses the United States and the US$ as its base. Countries where Big Macs cost less than […]
Swiss are buying more and more guns
24 Heures. Like many in the United States who defend loose gun laws, more and more Swiss are deciding guns will make them safer. Martin Boess, Director of the Swiss centre for crime prevention, disagrees. Compared to 2014, requests for permits to buy guns went up an average of 20% across 12 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons in […]
Billions of francs of unclaimed Swiss pensions – could some of it be yours?
24 Heures. You are working in Switzerland, find a new job in another country, leave in a whirlwind and forget to tell your work’s pension provider you are moving. If this sounds familiar then there could be a pot of forgotten Swiss pension money with your name on it sitting unclaimed in a special fund. […]
Swiss vote to tighten asylum rules on track for June
Le Matin. Changes to the laws around asylum in Switzerland are currently working their way through Switzerland’s parliament. The Swiss Peoples Party (UDC / SVP) does not like some of the changes and has now collected enough signatures to launch a referendum against them. The controversial changes include free legal assistance and new powers that will […]
2015, a turbulent year for Swiss equities
31 December 2015 – 2015 Swiss and global market roundup. Brought to you by Investec Switzerland. The SMI is expected to end the year largely unchanged (-1.84%), achieving a modestly better performance than the MSCI World (-3.58%) in 2015. However, the year was more turbulent than these figures suggest as share prices fluctuated wildly throughout 2015, dominated […]
Why there has been so little snow in the Swiss Alps this December
A Meteo Suisse spokesperson told Le Matin “there is no doubt that this is the hottest month since records started in 1864, especially at altitude”, while RTS reported that this December is set to be an average of 3.5 degrees above normal and the hottest since 1864. The previous December-record dates from 1868. In addition, 2015 has […]
Why Switzerland ranks near the bottom for working women
Earlier this year the Economist ranked OECD countries on workplace gender equality. Switzerland ranked near the bottom scoring last on one measure and third last on another, pegging it as the forth worst place for women to work. Only Turkey, Japan and South Korea are considered worse. The index covers 28 of the 34 OECD countries – Iceland, Mexico, […]
