Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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More than one third of firms in Switzerland are founded by foreigners

2025-09-30

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2025-09-30

More than one in three new companies in Switzerland will have been founded by foreigners by 2025. According to an analysis by the Institute for Young Entrepreneurs (IFJ), 37.5% of the total 40,867 new entries in the commercial register between January and September were made by people without a Swiss passport. +Get the most important …

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Price of gold reaches record amid fears of US government shutdown

2025-09-30

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2025-09-30

The price of an ounce of gold continued to rise on Tuesday morning. After reaching $3,850 on Monday night, it rose to $3,870 on Tuesday, buoyed by the risk of budgetary paralysis in the United States, the so-called “shutdown”. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox At around 7:35am on the last …

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Swiss economic sentiment improves but remains subdued

2025-09-30

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2025-09-30

Expectations for the Swiss economy remain subdued, according to the KOF Economic Barometer, which rose slightly in September but still signals caution. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The economic barometer compiled by the KOF Swiss Economic Institute rose to 98 points in September. In August, it had fallen to its …

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UBS criticises Swiss proposal to change capital adequacy requirements

2025-09-30

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2025-09-30

The major bank UBS has criticised a draft amendment to the Federal Capital Adequacy Ordinance in Switzerland. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox According to UBS, the “disproportionate” proposals for the treatment of the bank’s own software and deferred tax assets would destroy around $11 billion (CHF8.7 billion) in capital at …

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Trade unions push back on sale of Nestlé Waters

2025-09-29

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2025-09-29

A demonstration against the proposed sale of Nestlé Waters to a partner brought together around a hundred people at the company headquarters in Vevey on Monday. Trade union delegations came from seven European countries to make their voices heard. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The demonstrators had travelled from France, …

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Novartis launches direct sales platform in US in bid to lower drug prices

2025-09-29

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2025-09-29

Novartis is starting a new chapter in US sales: On Monday, the pharmaceutical company announced that it will sell its psoriasis drug Cosentyx (secukinumab) directly to cash-paying patients in the US via a direct-to-patient (DTP) platform. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This platform is set to launch on November 1, …

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Switzerland recorded 164 cyber attacks in last 6 months

2025-09-29

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2025-09-29

The first six months since the introduction of the obligation to report cyber attacks on critical infrastructure have ended on a positive note. This was reported today in a statement by the Federal Office for Cyber Security (FCOS). +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In this time period, 164 attacks were …

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Swiss central bank explores link to Eurozone instant payment system

2025-09-29

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2025-09-29

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) and the European Central Bank (ECB) are examining the possibility of linking the instant payment systems of the two areas. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The two entities have started an exploratory phase to connect the IP service and the SIC system with the Eurosystem’s …

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Swiss economy grew by 1.4% in 2024

2025-09-29

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2025-09-29

According to the latest data, the Swiss economy grew significantly in 2024. Gross domestic product (GDP) recorded an increase of 1.4% at the previous year’s prices, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Monday. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox At current prices, it rose by 2.4% to CHF854 … Continue...

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Swiss fragrance firm Givaudan invests CHF40 million in China factory

2025-09-29

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2025-09-29

Flavour and fragrance giant Givaudan is inaugurating construction work on its new fragrance and beauty products factory in Guangzhou, southern China. Givaudan plans to invest CHF40 million ($50 million) to strengthen its capacities in the country. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This inauguration “marks another important step in supporting the …

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Eigenmietwertreform: Bedeutung für Hausbesitzer, Mieter und Anleger

2025-09-27

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2025-09-27

Mit der Reform wird der Eigenmietwert abgeschafft, dafür fallen Schuldzinsenabzüge (Hypothek, Lombard) weitgehend weg. Gewinner sind schuldenfreie Hauseigentümer, Verlierer sind Kreditnehmer. Mieter und Anleger ohne Kredit bleiben unverändert (EFD).

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Tariffs ‘threaten global medicine supply’: Swiss pharma agency

2025-09-27

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2025-09-27

United States tariffs on medicines have threatened global drug supply chains, says an association representing Swiss pharmaceutical companies. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Customs barriers disrupt production and supply chains and hinder research and development, Interpharma told AWP.

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Novartis responds to Trump’s 100% tariffs on drugs

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Donald Trump has vowed to slap 100% tariffs on pharmaceutical imports to America from 1 October 2025. The measure, announced in a fleeting post on Truth Social, will apply to patented medicines, though generics appear exempt.

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The Federal Council wants to tax electric cars from 2030

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Switzerland’s Federal Council intends to tax electric cars from 2030 to make up for shrinking fuel-tax revenues, reported SRF. Two models are on the table: a levy per kilometre driven or a surcharge on the electricity used to charge vehicles.

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Switzerland plans extra taxes on electric vehicles

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Electric vehicles are to be taxed more heavily from 2030. The government has put out to consultation two tax variants - one based on the number of kilometres travelled, the other on electricity - to continue financing Switzerland's roads. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This new tax is intended to …

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UBS protests Swiss capital requirement proposal

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Switzerland’s government formally proposed giving UBS bank seven years to fully comply with higher capital requirements, confirming previous guidance. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The biggest banks in Switzerland, most notably UBS, should “provide full capital backing for their participations in foreign subsidiaries,” the government said in a statement on …

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Switzerland enters digital trade deal with Singapore

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Switzerland is among the EFTA states ( also Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) that have signed an agreement on digital trade with Singapore. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Swiss Economics Minister Guy Parmelin and representatives of the other EFTA states signed the deal with Singapore's Minister for Trade Relations, Grace Fu, …

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Swiss lawmakers moot transit tourism tax

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Swiss lawmakers are proposing a tax on foreigners who drive through the country en route to other destinations. The government warns of complex implementation and high costs, and one expert doubts the usefulness of the tax. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Senators have had enough of private transit traffic clogging …

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Nestlé appoints new Nespresso head

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Nestlé has appointed Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen as CEO of Nespresso and member of the Executive Board. He will succeed Philipp Navratil, who was appointed as new group CEO following a scandal at the food giant. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Loeschen, who is currently head of Nespresso North America and …

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How fillers and flavours help reduce cocoa in chocolate treats 

2025-09-26

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2025-09-26

Record high prices of cocoa beans have boosted the development and adoption of cheaper replacement options which provide the same chocolate taste - for less. Food companies have seen their profit margins hit by record cocoa prices caused by two successive years of unfavourable weather in West Africa in 2023 and 2024, where 75% of …

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