Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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Lufthansa strike to hit SWISS flights

The Swiss national carrier is cancelling around a dozen flights to Germany on Wednesday, owing to a one-day strike by ground staff at its German parent company Lufthansa.

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The Swiss army: your questions answered Part 6

In Switzerland, all able-bodied men complete compulsory military service, while others opt for a civilian service. But how useful is a conscript army in light of what Russia did to Ukraine?

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Swiss retail banks earn highest profit per customer

Swiss retail banks make the most profit per customer among wealthy nations, according to an international ranking.

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Switzerland may have passed 6th Covid peak

Data published this week on 19 July 2022, suggest that 6th wave Covid-19 infections in Switzerland may have peaked. Data published by Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health show 46,099 new cases over the 7 days to 18 July 2022. Over the prior 7 days there were 55,339 cases. Recorded cases have dropped 17% week on week.

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Energy experts warn of possible power shortages

Switzerland could face electricity and gas shortages in winter despite sufficient supplies at the moment and considerable reserves, experts say.

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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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The UK and Switzerland’s fall outs with the EU

What do Brexit and the Swiss breakdowns in relations with the EU have in common? According to a Swiss social historian, quite a lot. Switzerland has never been an EU member but enjoys almost full access to the EU’s internal market, thanks to 120 bilateral agreements. Attempts to update these with a new framework agreement collapsed in 2021 when the Swiss walked out of talks with the EU. The Financial Times dubbed the fallout “Swexit” in reference...

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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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The Swiss army: your questions answered Part 5

In Switzerland, all able-bodied men complete compulsory military service, while others opt for a civilian service. But how useful is a conscript army in light of what Russia did to Ukraine?

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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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