Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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Swiss-made candles thrive as imports dominate shelves

2025-12-24

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2025-12-24

Once used mainly for lighting, prayer or birthdays, candles have become a lifestyle accessory and symbol. The Swiss public broadcaster RTS met candle-making entrepreneurs in French-speaking Switzerland who are carving out a niche for themselves. With more than 120,000 candles sold last year, the company Hello Candle is growing steadily. It was founded in 2018 …

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Swiss bank secrecy probe dropped against news portal

2025-12-24

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2025-12-24

The Zurich public prosecutor has dropped a probe against online portal Inside Paradeplatz, which was accused of violating banking secrecy. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The prosecutor said that the protection of journalistic sources prevents evidence from being presented in the case in key respects. + How Swiss banking secrecy …

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Lab-grown meat ‘not market ready for five years’: Bell CEO

2025-12-24

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2025-12-24

A phase of strong growth in meat substitute products is over, according to the CEO of Swiss food producer Bell Food Group. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Sales of Bell's meat substitute range are only growing by 0-1% per year, Marco Tschanz said in an interview with the Neue Zürcher … Continue reading »

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Fewer jobs and more unemployment in the Swiss banking sector

2025-12-23

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2025-12-23

The largest Swiss banks have advertised few jobs, while the number of unemployed people who previously worked in the banking sector is rising sharply. The 10 largest Swiss banks currently have 505 job advertisements on their websites. Compared to the end of November, this represents an additional nine job offers, as a current analysis by …

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Disappointing Black Friday sales leave Swiss retailers in the red

2025-12-23

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2025-12-23

Black Friday has clearly lost its lustre for the Swiss retail trade who lost CHF100 million (about $127 million). Consumers have given retailers the cold shoulder this year. According to a recent study by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI), this year's Black Friday has become a burden for the Swiss retail trade. Disillusionment now prevails …

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The last free Swiss commuter newspaper bids farewell to its print edition

2025-12-23

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2025-12-23

20 Minutes has bid farewell to its print version on Tuesday with a special edition. The commuter newspaper, which was launched in 1999, will only be published digitally in future. The blue newspaper boxes were filled for the last time in German-speaking Switzerland, French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino early on Tuesday morning. As a farewell, there …

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A great year for gold with a favourable 2026 ahead

2025-12-22

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2025-12-22

The year 2025 was a brilliant year for gold. The yellow metal gained more than 60%, steadily updating its records. Monday, for the first time in history, the $4400 (CHF3488) per ounce has been exceeded (i.e. the kilo is at around CHF113,000). And according to experts, the ingredients are all there for 2026 to be … Continue reading »

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Is Switzerland losing its place in the world?

2025-12-22

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2025-12-22

It was a remarkably blunt public warning from the top of Switzerland’s biggest bank. UBS chair Colm Kelleher declared last month that Switzerland was “losing its lustre” and had reached a “crossroads with major challenges”. As evidence, he cited fierce competition in wealth management, US tariffs that have hit pharmaceuticals and other export sectors, and …

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Why Palantir is becoming a risky bet for Switzerland

2025-12-22

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2025-12-22

Zurich serves as a hub for US tech company Palantir’s business relations. The Swiss foreign ministry now has the company in its sights, because of its controversial role in Gaza. Palantir is arguably the most controversial tech company in the world today. It expects over $4 billion (CHF3.2 billion) in revenue this year. Many people, …

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Would Inheritance Taxes Drive Millionaires Out of Switzerland? | Truth or Tale

2025-12-19

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Would inheritance taxes trigger a mass exodus of millionaires from Switzerland? 🧐⁠ ⁠ After Swiss voters rejected a proposal to introduce a 50% tax on inheritances over CHF50 million, some of you started debating whether taxing the wealthy really drives them abroad, with some claiming it’s already happening in places like Norway and the United Kingdom.⁠ ⁠ Visit Swissinfo to find out what the experts say and check out examples from Norway and the...

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Nestlé allowed to continue French Perrier operations

2025-12-19

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2025-12-19

Nestlé Waters will be able to continue operating two boreholes in France for the production of Perrier natural mineral water in France. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This follows a favourable opinion from the Prefect of the Gard region, where the Vergèze plant is located. However, restrictions and stricter monitoring …

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Truth or tale: Would inheritance taxes trigger a mass exodus of millionaires from Switzerland? 

2025-12-19

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2025-12-19

After Swiss voters rejected a proposal to introduce a 50% tax on inheritances over CHF50 million, Swissinfo readers began debating whether taxing the wealthy drives them abroad, with some even claiming this is already happening in countries such as Norway and the UK. We took a closer look. The “For a social climate policy” initiative, …

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Reduced US tariffs ‘remain a burden’ for Swiss economy

2025-12-19

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2025-12-19

The negative impact of US tariffs on the Swiss economy remains considerable despite a reduction in rates from 39% to 15%, according to consulting firm EY. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox According to an analysis published today by EY, gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2026 is expected to be …

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Switzerland considers AI data ‘theft’ defence

2025-12-19

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2025-12-19

Journalists, authors and artists are in uproar about artificial intelligence (AI) harvesting copyrighted content. Switzerland has turned to legislators to find the right balance between fostering technological innovation and protecting intellectual property. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Parliament is debating a measure that would limit AI companies from scraping media …

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Record number of guests in 2025: Swiss tourism boss

2025-12-19

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2025-12-19

Switzerland Tourism is expecting a record year for overnight stays by foreign guests in 2025. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Overnight stays are expected to grow by 1-2% compared to the previous year, Switzerland Tourism Director Martin Nydegger told Blick. The number of overnight stays rose by 2.6% to 42.8 …

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UBS plans January job cuts: media report

2025-12-18

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2025-12-18

Swiss bank UBS is preparing to start the next wave of layoffs in mid-January, Bloomberg claims based on sources inside the bank. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox According to the agency, another termination phase is planned for mid-2026, when the IT systems taken over as part of the acquisition of …

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Zurich fears impact of rumoured UBS move

2025-12-18

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2025-12-18

The departure of UBS bank from Switzerland would have a noticeable impact on the perception and stability of Zurich as a financial centre. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox There is a lot at stake for the city and canton of Zurich, according to the cantonal government. "A possible relocation of …

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US ‘strikes price cut deal’ with Swiss pharma giants

2025-12-18

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2025-12-18

The United States has struck a deal with Swiss pharmaceutical giants Novartis and Roche to lower drug prices, according to media reports. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The deal is expected to be made public on Friday, Bloomberg reports, citing sources close to the matter. + Read how Trump upended …

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Swiss Senate rejects cuts to Swissinfo’s finances

2025-12-18

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2025-12-18

The Swiss government has proposed dozens of cost-cutting measures under a vast savings package aimed at keeping the federal budget in check. One of the proposed measures involves cutting the federal contribution to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation’s (SBC) foreign mandate, which includes Swissinfo. On Wednesday, the Senate narrowly rejected this cut. The federal contribution to …

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Swiss watch exports contract further in November

2025-12-18

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2025-12-18

Swiss watch exports continued to flag in November, falling by 7.3% to CHF2.2 billion, led by a dramatic decline in sales to the United States. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The leading market in terms of value, with CHF201.1 million, the United States saw its imports of Swiss watches evaporate …

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