Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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Major Swiss private bank to scrap negative interest charges

Wealth manager Julius Bär has joined a growing list of Swiss banks that will no longer pass on the cost of negative interest rates to clients.

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What happens if the Black Sea blockade is lifted?

United Nations and Turkey-led negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv to allow Ukrainian grain exports to resume in the Black Sea are moving forward. But even if a deal is signed, its impact to alleviate the food crisis could take months.

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Swiss customs crack down on fake medicinal imports

Switzerland’s customs and border security authorities have seized more than 230 packages of illegally imported counterfeit medical products.

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Ukraine war hits Swiss asset management industry

The ongoing war in Ukraine has been partly blamed for losses at a prominent Swiss asset management company. The entire Swiss industry suffered a dip in fortunes in the first six months of year as extreme market volatility reduced the value of investments and caused clients to play safe with their money.

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Russia threatens Swiss newspaper over Putin caricature

Russia has threatened Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung with legal action after it published critical reports and a caricature of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Biggest soy traders enlist indirect suppliers to tackle hidden deforestation

Six of the world’s biggest commodity traders have committed to help some of their largest indirect suppliers source soy sustainably in Brazil’s vulnerable Cerrado region.

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Dairy substitutes filling up Swiss shelves

Plant-based dairy products continue to gain in popularity in Switzerland, with sales of plant-based milk more than doubling since 2017. However, dairy substitutes still occupy a niche in the overall market.

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Half of flights delayed at Zurich Airport

Almost every second flight from Zurich Airport has been delayed since the beginning of June, with travellers facing more delays this summer.

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Experts pessimistic about 2023 outlook for Swiss economy

The BAK Economics market research institute has confirmed its forecast for the Swiss economy this year, but it is more pessimistic about 2023.

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Swiss tech chameleon fast tracks into trouble

If running a fintech start-up isn’t hard enough, then try pivoting to healthtech in mid-stride. The transition from digital payments to Covid diagnostics has proven a bumpy ride for Achiko, resulting in its shares being suspended from trading on the Swiss stock exchange.

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French air police ground Swiss interior minister’s private flight

The Swiss interior minister, Alain Berset, on a private flight in neighbouring France has been forced to land by the French air force.

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The online retail fraud made possible by Swiss billing system

In Switzerland it is possible to order goods online without paying up front. Retailers will send orders with a payment slip included with the goods. Fraudsters are exploiting this quirk of Swiss postal retail.

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When cooperatives wanted to prevent a world war

The word “cooperative” is everywhere in Swiss daily life. What’s often forgotten is that cooperatives were once at the forefront of a worldwide movement that advocated for consumer rights, affordable rents – and world peace.

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Charities have yet to spend most of Ukraine donations

Despite record public donations for Ukraine, four months since the start of the invasion by Russia, Swiss aid agencies have only been able to spend a small amount of the funds on humanitarian work.

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Swiss fighter jet document reveals secret French tax offer

France offered Switzerland a financial sweetener, worth an estimated CHF3.5 billion, to buy its Rafale fighter jets rather than US F-35A aircraft, according to a secret document seen by Swiss public broadcaster SRF. The document sheds light on background negotiations as Switzerland seeks to replace its ageing fleet of fighter jets.

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Ukraine reconstruction summit was worth the risk, says Swiss press

Newspaper editors in Switzerland offered praise mixed with criticism on the two-day international conference in Lugano to support war-torn Ukraine with its reconstruction efforts.

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How air conditioning cools homes and warms the planet

More intense and frequent heatwaves have caused demand for air conditioning to skyrocket, even in temperate countries like Switzerland. But there is a catch: the cooler the buildings, the warmer the planet.

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Immigration only partially alleviates lack of skilled workers

The Swiss economy has recovered well from the Covid-19 crisis, but despite the free movement of people agreement with the EU, some sectors are struggling to recruit qualified staff, says a government report.

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Nearly 1 in 6 lives in a household with outstanding debts in Switzerland

Even before high inflation hit people’s pockets many Swiss households were over extended. In 2020, almost one in six residents lived in a household with debt arrears, according to data released this week by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).

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Gas industry head warns winter supplies could be tight

The president of the Swissgas industry platform says Switzerland is not aware of how fragile the situation is and that “it would not take much” to lead to a winter shortage. André Dosé told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) newspaper on Thursday that looming gas shortages elsewhere in Europe and exploding prices amounted to a “huge problem” for Swiss supplies.

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