Category Archive: 3.) Investec

Sender must now pay Swiss Post for customs checks

Currently, anyone ordering something from outside Switzerland, must pay Swiss Post an administrative charge if their package attracts import tax (duty and/or VAT). In addition, they must pay Swiss Post an additional CHF 13 if the parcel needs to be opened, usually because the package has been poorly labelled.

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Government stops tax rises on Swiss cigarettes

Swiss cigarette prices will not rise over the coming years unless manufacturers increase the underlying price. On Tuesday, Switzerland’s Council of States (upper house), withheld permission to allow the Federal Council (cabinet) to continue hiking the tax on smokes.

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Swiss government drops plan to restrict lobbyists’ access to parliament

One year after Switzerland’s Council of States (upper house) voted in favour of controlling lobbyists’ access to parliament, the draft proposed implementation plan has been rejected by the commission in charge of it.

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46 percent of Swiss industrial companies considering relocating operations abroad

After a very difficult year in 2015, the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industries (MEM) started to recover in 2016, with new orders rising by 9.5%. At the same time 23% of the industry made a loss on the back of high costs and a 1.8% drop in sales, says the industry association Swiss MEM.

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Uncertainty and concern follow voter rejection of Switzerland’s company tax reform

Speaking to Tribune de Genève, Serge Dal Busco, Geneva’s minister of finance, voiced his concerns about last Sunday’s rejection of Switzerland’s planned company tax reform. At the same time he remains optimistic about the chances of a new federal corporate tax reform project.

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Swiss unemployment rises. French-speaking cantons worst affected.

The unemployment rate across Switzerland climbed by 0.2% to 3.7% in January, and regional differences were clear. Across French and Italian-speaking cantons the rate averaged 5%, while across the German-speaking cantons it was 3.1%.

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Angry Politics: How angry voters can impact investments | Andrew Summers | Vision 2017

Andrew Summers, Head of Collectives at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses his views about the rise of ‘Angry Politics’ and what it means for investing. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel will be prevalent in 2017. Download …

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Smart Buildings: Tech Towers | John Haynes, Head of Research | Vision 2017

John Haynes, Head of Research at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses his views on the advancements seen not only in building materials, but the technology that manages the building. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel will be …

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Regime Change | Investment Insight from John Haynes, Head of Research | Vision 2017

John Haynes, Head of Research at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses the end of the 35-year bull market seen by bonds. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel will be prevalent in 2017. Download the full Vision 2017 …

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Share Raising & The Sharing Economy | Ben Thomas, Research Analyst | Vision 2017

Ben Thomas, Research Analyst at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses his views about the meteoric rise in popularity of the sharing economy, and how Airbnb and Uber have impacted the economy. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel …

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Gene Editing: A Disruptive Technology | Jimmy Muchechetere, Research Analyst | Vision 2017

Jimmy Muchechetere, Research Analyst at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses his views about the latest medical advancement; gene editing. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel will be prevalent in 2017. Download the full Vision 2017 eBook for …

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The Rise of the Robojob | Simon Lapthorne, Senior Research Analyst | Vision 2017

Simon Lapthorne, Senior Research Analyst at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses the rise of the robojob, and what advances in automation means for the economy. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel will be prevalent in 2017. Download …

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Business of Sport: A Commercial Behemoth | Shilen Shah, Bond Strategist | Vision 2017

Shilen Shah, Bond Strategist at Investec Wealth & Investment, discusses his views about sport’s transition from grass roots to commercial behemoth. The article was originally published in Vision 2017, highlighting the thoughts of our Research Team, detailing some of the key investment themes they feel will be prevalent in 2017. Download the full Vision 2017 …

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Swiss Might Drop Daylight Savings

Switzerland could drop daylight savings. Currently, Switzerland’s Federal Council sees no reason to abandon it, however if Switzerland’s neighbours did it would follow, mainly for economic reasons said the Federal council. National councilor Yvette Estermann (UDC/SVP), who is fiercely opposed to daylight saving, took the opportunity to point out the negative health consequences of changing the time every six months.

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A Girl Called Dave

See more at https://thestand.investec.co.uk/the-female-lead-a-girl-called-dave/ Call them Dave: at the beginning of 2017, there were more CEOs of that name on the list of the UK’s FTSE 100 companies than female CEOs of any name (five Davids, two Daves and only six women, with Emma Walmsley due to take the top job at GlaxoSmithKline on March …

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Swiss fact: 96 percent of Swiss workers earn 3,000 francs or more a month

A report published by the Swiss Federal Office of statistics, shows that only 4.3% of full-time workers earn less than CHF 3,000 per month. The monthly figure is net of social security deductions, but includes one twelfth of the 13th bonus month typically paid in Switzerland.

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Swiss fact: work days lost to strikes in Switzerland close to one ninth of neighbouring countries

Across the ten years to 2008, Switzerland lost an average of 3 working days per 1,000 workers to strikes a year. This compares to 32 days in Austria, 33 days in France, and 55 days in Italy. Germany was close behind Switzerland with 4 days. The combined average for Switzerland’s neighbours: Austria, Germany, France and Italy, was 26 days. Switzerland’s 3 day average was one ninth or 11% of this.

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Squeezed and angry: how to fix the middle class crisis – a look at Switzerland

One of the topics at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos is: Squeezed and angry: how to fix the middle class crisis. As a precursor, the WEF published the 135 page  Inclusive Growth and Development Report 2017, which ranks Switzerland 3rd behind Norway and Luxembourg on inclusion, out of a group of 30 advanced economies. In addition, unlike Luxembourg, which is headed slowly backwards, both Switzerland and Norway are moving towards higher...

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Investec – Design Your Future

Whether you require our assistance in isolation, or whether you would like for us to partner with your existing advisers, Investec Wealth & Investment can be of valuable assistance to you in relation to the financial planning process. Speak with us today: http://bit.ly/2ixf4qU

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Swiss franc less overvalued according to latest Big Mac index

On 12 January 2017, 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 in the United States (in US$ terms) have weak currencies, and those where they are...

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