Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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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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Stadler signs contract for 35 freight locomotives in Turkey

2026-02-10

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2026-02-10

Stadler Rail has signed a contract with Turkish railway company TCDD Tamaclk for the delivery of 35 diesel-electric locomotives for freight services. They will be manufactured at the Thurgau-based group's plant in Valencia, Spain. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The EURO4001 locomotive "has been specially designed for transporting heavy goods …

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Switzerland backtracks in fight against corruption

2026-02-10

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2026-02-10

Switzerland has lost ground in the fight against corruption in the public sector. In the latest ranking by the organisation Transparency International, it has dropped one place to 6th place. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In the Corruption Perceptions Index published on Tuesday, Switzerland scored 80 out of 100 points, …

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Swatch faces new US activist challenge, rejects changes

2026-02-09

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2026-02-09

The tug-of-war between Swatch Group and US activist investor Steven Wood has entered a new phase. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The American shareholder, via his company Greenwood Investors, has launched a two-pronged offensive: he has applied for a seat on Swatch's board of directors and submitted seven proposals to …

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Novartis begins construction of new research centre in San Diego, US

2026-02-09

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2026-02-09

The Swiss pharma company Novartis has begun work on a new global biomedical research centre in San Diego, United States. The 43,300 m2 facility will be operational in 2029 and house around 1,000 employees. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The new centre is a key pillar of the pharmaceutical group's …

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Anti‑GMO farming campaign gathers 133,000 signatures in Switzerland

2026-02-09

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2026-02-09

An alliance behind an initiative to protect Swiss food from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has gathered more than 133,000 signatures, it announced on Monday. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The initiative committee plans to deliver the signatures to the Federal Chancellery in Bern by the 27 February deadline. According to …

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Julius Bär boss wants Swiss register of ‘black sheep’ bankers

2026-02-08

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2026-02-08

Stefan Bollinger, CEO of Zurich-based private bank Julius Bär, has called for a Swiss register of bad bankers. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "The advantages of registering financial market players are obvious," Bollinger told the NZZ am Sonntag. + Swiss finance shrinks as regulations tighten "This prevents black sheep from …

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Swiss medicine revenues pegged back by price reductions

2026-02-07

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2026-02-07

The Swiss domestic pharmaceutical market recorded a 5% increase in revenues of CHF8.1 billion at factory prices, last year. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Turnover expansion was held back 2.4% by price reductions enforced by the government, reported trade association Interpharma. + Read our extensive coverage drug prices and insurance …

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Expert: Switzerland is an interesting market for illegal synthetic drugs networks

2026-02-06

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2026-02-06

After a major synthetic‑drug network was dismantled in Europe, Swiss public broadcaster RSI asked an expert whether – and how – Switzerland might be involved in producing or trafficking such drugs. Last month, Europol announced the dismantling of a major synthetic drug network active across several European countries. The operation led to over 100 arrests, …

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WEF launches investigation into CEO over Epstein relationship

2026-02-05

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2026-02-05

The World Economic Forum has launched an independent investigation into its CEO Borge Brende. The aim is to clarify his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after it became known that Brende had been in contact with him. Brende is said to have attended three dinners at which Epstein was also present, the Italian news …

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SWISS adds second Airbus A350 to its fleet

2026-02-05

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2026-02-05

Swiss International Airlines has taken delivery of its second Airbus A350 long-haul aircraft. The new aircraft named "Delémont" will make its first passenger flight from Zurich to Montreal on 23 February 23, the Lufthansa subsidiary announced in a press release on Wednesday. From the 2026 summer timetable, the A350 will be used on long-haul flights …

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Epstein files, Fed chair nominee – and a new nuclear arms race?

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Welcome to our press review of events in the United States. Every Wednesday I look at how the Swiss media have reported and reacted to three major stories in the US – in politics, finance and science. It doesn’t happen often, but this week Swiss newspapers congratulated US President Donald Trump on making a half-decent …

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UBS job layoffs expected in second half of year

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

The next wave of job cuts at Swiss bank UBS will start in the coming months, with the bulk of the redundancies in Switzerland taking place in the second half of the year and in early 2027. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This was indicated today by CEO Sergio Ermotti … Continue reading »

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Swiss companies employ AI tools for social media strategies

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Practically all large Swiss companies and organisations integrate artificial intelligence (AI) tools into their social media strategies, according to a study. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Companies and organisations want to use social media to increase their visibility and reach and strengthen trust, a study by the ZHAW and PR …

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New Swiss electric cars regain traction but miss targets

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Sales of electric cars continued to rise in Switzerland last year, although not enough to meet the targets set by the federal government. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The overall car market remains sluggish, reports the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). A total of 232,602 passenger cars were put on Swiss …

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Swiss retail trade stagnated in 2025

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

The Swiss retail sector grew by just 1% last year, according to market researcher NielsenIQ. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Retailers covered by the NIQ Market Monitor Switzerland sold 1.2% more goods in the food and food-related sector (food/nearfood). In the non-food sector, the increase was a meagre 0.6%. Meanwhile, …

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The turbulent times of Swiss chocolate maker Barry Callebaut

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Last month the world’s largest chocolate manufacturer, Barry Callebaut, announced the sudden departure of its CEO Peter Feld after reports of a high-level split. The move comes as the Zurich-based group struggles with lower volumes, high cocoa prices and internal upheaval. Barry Callebaut is the world’s largest supplier of chocolate and cocoa products, processing around …

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Novartis revenues slowed in last quarter of 2025

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Novartis revenues slowed to a standstill in the final quarter of 2025. The Swiss pharmaceutical firm presents a mixed outlook for the current year. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Novartis sales grew just 1% year-on-year to $13.3 billion in the last three months of 2025. At constant exchange rates, this …

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US Senate probes 890 alleged Credit Suisse Nazi-linked accounts

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

A United States Senate committee investigating WWII Nazi links with Swiss banks suspects that 890 Credit Suisse accounts were tied to the Hitler regime. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Some of the suspicious accounts remained open until 2020 and the existence of others has only recently become known, a hearing …

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Swiss bank UBS posts bumper 2025 profits

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Swiss banking giant UBS has reported annual 2025 profits of $7.8 billion, boosted by an unexpectedly high $1.2 billion performance in the final quarter of the year. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Full year profits rose 53% from 2024, while Q4 profits gained 56% year-on-year. Analysts had expected an average …

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New Nestlé boss plots strategic overhaul to reignite growth

2026-02-04

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2026-02-04

Nestlé’s new chief executive is planning a strategic overhaul that will refocus the sprawling multinational around four product categories, as it faces pressure to boost growth after a period of turmoil. Philipp Navratil, appointed after the firing of former boss Laurent Freixe, is preparing to organise the KitKat and Nespresso maker around new “pillars” — …

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