Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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Investec
Investec is a distinctive Specialist Bank and Asset Manager. We provide a diverse range of financial products and services to a niche client base in three principal markets, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Australia, as well as certain other geographies. Investec’s strategic goals are motivated by the desire to develop an efficient and integrated business on an international scale through the active pursuit of clearly established core competencies in the group’s principal business areas.
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French strike affects Swiss rail connections

2018-04-04

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2018-04-04

Nationwide strikes in France against railway reforms have resulted in all rail connections to Switzerland being cancelled on Tuesday. The so-called Black Tuesday marked the first day of a series of strikes expected to last until the end of June. Rail employees have been called upon to stop work on two out of five days every week until June 30.

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French-speaking Swiss artists take the rap scene by storm

2018-04-04

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In the past, the French-speaking Swiss rap scene was dominated by Sens Unik and Stress. Today’s stars are Slimka, Makala and Di-Meh. What makes their music so popular? (RTS/swissinfo.ch) — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on …

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Food consumes far less of Swiss budgets than it did 25 years ago

2018-04-03

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2018-04-03

Swiss Food Budget
Comparing the most recent statistics on Swiss consumer inflation to those in 1993 reveals a steep drop in the percentage of spending allocated to food. When statisticians calculate consumer price rises they look at the prices of a standard basket of goods. In 1993, food and non-alcoholic beverages made up 14.3% of the value of this standard basket. By 2018, the percentage had fallen to 10.4%, a 27% drop.

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Bringing everyone to the table

2018-04-03

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When politics polarise, solutions become difficult and blockades form. How to cope? Get people together and let them speak freely. — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit …

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Trilogie des Fiatgeldes (II): Das fraktionelle Reservesystem, die Mutter aller Finanzkrisen und die Quelle der Ohnmacht der Notenbanken

2018-04-02

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2018-04-02

Money
Genial aus der Sicht der Banken war, dass sie das fraktionelle Reservesystem in das Zeitalter des FED hinüberretten konnten – sie waren selber erstaunt, dass ihnen dies gelang und der Geniestreich nur von einigen wenigen Senatoren und Beobachtern durchschaut wurde. So konnten sie ihr eigenes Buchgeld weiterhin emittieren und dies einzig und allein mit dem Versprechen, es jederzeit in Bargeld umzutauschen.

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EasyJet foresees Swiss market growth

2018-04-02

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2018-04-02

In an interview given to the SonntagsZeitung on Sunday, EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren described the company's strategy for increasing its already-growing share of passengers in the Swiss market. Lundgren told the German-language paper than in recent years, the low-cost British airline has counted about one million additional passengers in the Swiss market annually, and anticipates continued growth thanks to a combination of targeted advertising and...

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Tax and spend – canton of Geneva generates a surprise budget surplus

2018-04-01

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2018-04-01

Geneva Finances
When Geneva’s finances make the news it is typically bad. At the end of 2016, the canton had debts of CHF 12.5 billion, equal to 153% of its income. In January 2018, the rating agency Standard and Poors gave Geneva a negative outlook citing risks related to the canton’s poorly funded public pension scheme.

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Shell accuses former executive of hiding bribes in Switzerland

2018-04-01

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2018-04-01

Royal Dutch Shell has filed a criminal complaint against a former employee it suspects of stashing kickbacks from the sale of a Nigerian oil field in Swiss bank accounts. The energy company is already being investigated over another deal there.

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Bankrupt Petroplus climate payments ‘non-refundable’

2018-03-31

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2018-03-31

Climate fund payments made to now-bankrupt Swiss oil refiner Petroplus cannot be reclaimed by creditors as they constituted a business arrangement that brought benefits to contributors as opposed to a gift. This ruling from Zurich’s highest court has stopped a CH15 million ($16 million) claim in its tracks, barring an appeal to the federal courts.

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Credit Suisse boss earned less last year

2018-03-30

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2018-03-30

Credit Suisse Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam earned slightly less in 2017 during his third year on the job, the bank said on Friday. The news comes at a time of scrutiny over executive pay and bonuses. Thiam earned CHF9.7 million ($10.26 million) last year, a 5.3% drop on 2016, Switzerland’s second-biggest bank said.

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IMF forecasts 2.25 percent Swiss GDP growth in 2018 while pointing to risks

2018-03-29

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2018-03-29

Swiss Francs
A boost to investment and net exports from the tailwind of strong external demand, together with faster expansion of household spending owing to rising employment, are forecast to lift GDP growth to around 2¼ percent in 2018, said the IMF in a statement referring to Switzerland issued on 26 March 2018.

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Budget Speech 2018 – insights from Investec.

2018-03-29

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A panel of Investec experts summarises the outcomes of the 2018 Budget Speech, and the effects on business and the consumer. Journalist and political commentator, Justice Malala, chairs the panel consisting of Annabel Bishop, Investec chief economist; David Gracey, head of currency and derivatives trading at Investec Corporate and Institutional Banking (ICIB), and Ronelle Hutchinson, …

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Börsen-Talk vom 29. März 2018

2018-03-29

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Christian Gattiker, Leiter Research Bank Julius Bär, schätzt die Perspektiven der Schweizer Börsenschwergewichte Nestlé, Novartis und Roche ein.

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Rising yields and inflation expectations in developed nations

2018-03-29

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Aside from the concern over governance at our SOEs, what are the biggest risks facing SA’s macro environment in 2018? Investec’s Ronelle Hutchinson says that even though the SA dynamic has improved, the global environment is shifting, and a rish factor for South Africa is the change in liquidity dynamic. Annabel Bishop adds: Looking at …

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Budget Speech 2018: Domestic risk assets attractive to foreign investors

2018-03-29

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Will SA benefit from the increasing popularity of emerging market equities? With emerging markets back in favour, Ronelle Hutchinson, Investec portfolio manager believes South African equities will also see investment. With recent positive developments, she says there is potential for inflows into the local equity market. Get more insights from the Investec #Budget2018 panel discussion …

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Budget Speech 2018 and the sluggish GDP growth in South Africa – insights from Investec

2018-03-29

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Are we in the losing zone? Celebrating 1.5% GDP growth shows how far we’ve fallen behind, says Investec’s David Gracey. He puts this down to the country missing out on a decade of activity. “1.5% does nothing for us; we’re farming backwards; our population growth is higher than that!” Get more insights from the Investec …

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Budget Speech 2018: VAT and the expected effects of the tax increases on the CPI

2018-03-29

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What is the impact on businesses and the consumer? CPI inflation is unlikely to drop below the 5% mark for the medium term, says Investec’s Annabel Bishop, so the Reserve Bank is not going to rush into any interest rate cuts. She adds that the VAT increase is a small one, which, on a global …

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Investec insights: Budget Speech 2018 and the president’s “New Dawn”

2018-03-29

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What’s more impoprtant? Ensuring that the rand is strong, or that we can meaningfully impact people’s lives? Investec’s David Gracey reminds us not to lose sight of what’s key for South Africa’s economy. The behaviour of the rand and interest rates are symptoms of the activity in the broader economy. What we need to hone …

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Maker of the Sniper’s Choice, makes the news – but what is the Swiss company RUAG?

2018-03-28

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2018-03-28

RUAG
The Swiss company RUAG made the news last week when investigators were called in to look at information relating to the sale of ammunition. But what is this company? According to RTS, the investigation revealed contracts for the sale of ammunition to Russia that had not been properly declared, RUAG triggered the investigation itself when a whistle blower reported irregularities and has filed a criminal complaint.

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Swiss electricity getting cleaner, says energy report

2018-03-28

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2018-03-28

The electricity consumed in Switzerland is ever greener, according to government statistics: some 62% comes from renewable sources, while nuclear has fallen to 17%. The figures (in French/German)external link were released on Monday by the Federal Office of Energy, which gathers each year the sources used by electricity providers in Switzerland. The latest report refers to 2016.

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