Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

Main Author Investec
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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#swihack Live Stream of presentations

2020-02-22

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On location at #swihack Multilingual Journalism Hackathon organized by Swissinfo For more information, please visit https://swihack.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 international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit swissinfo.ch or subscribe to …

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Ermotti’s UBS record: solid but not all plain sailing

2020-02-22

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2020-02-22

Sergio Ermotti arrived at UBS in 2011 during a dark chapter in the history of Switzerland’s largest bank. He will depart in November, nine years later, with a reputation for injecting greater stability but not for stamping out controversy. Ironically, UBS arguably faces some greater challenges than cross-town rival Credit Suisse, where earlier this month former CEO Tidjane Thiam was forced to step down unceremoniously following an internal spying...

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Credit Suisse MD Dies In Freak Accident After Slipping Through Chairlift And Being Suffocated By His Own Jacket

2020-02-22

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2020-02-22

Almost exactly 10 years ago, we detailed the tragic death of Gerard Reilly in a skiing accident - the point man on Repo 105, the point person for E&Y's "investigation" into the Matthew Lee whistleblower campaign, Lehman's Level 2 and Level 3 asset valuation, the brain behind the idea to spin off Lehman's commercial real estate business, Lehman's Archstone investment, and likely so much more.

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Inside Out of the Ordinary Episode VI – Wisdom

2020-02-21

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“You could be bright but not necessarily wise, but to be wise I think one needs the knowledge that comes with experience and the testing ground that a life of work gives you.” Prof Brian Kantor, Chair of the Investec Wealth & Investment Research Institute, explains how investment knowledge comes from immersing yourself in the …

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Inside Out of the Ordinary Episode V – Objectivity

2020-02-21

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“If you take an approach that is too hard-nosed and too objective, going down a single track, you will miss a lot of what moves markets.” Philip Shaw, Chief Economist, Investec UK, talks about the importance of objectivity and humanity in investing. Watch the full series here: https://invest.ec/2Pbnhzn #InsideOOTO

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Inside Out of the Ordinary Episode IV – Variety

2020-02-21

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“Variety is the spice of life.” John Wyn-Evans, Head of Investment Strategy for Investec Wealth & Investment UK talks about why a variety of life experiences and broad knowledge is key to investment success. Watch the full series here: https://invest.ec/38KAaYX #InsideOOTO

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Inside Out of the Ordinary Episode III – Balance

2020-02-21

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“I think balance is a critical thing to sustain and to grow as an individual host of things.” Ryan Friedman, Multi-Manager Investment Head, Investec Wealth & Investment SA, talks about how balance is an important part of the investment process. Watch the full series here: https://invest.ec/38JTx4h #InsideOOTO

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Inside Out of the Ordinary Episode II – Borderless

2020-02-21

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“If you grow up in a bubble, you think the bubble is reality and when you come out of that bubble, it is quite a shock.” Annelise Peers, Chief Investment Officer, Investec Bank Switzerland, talks about her global outlook on investments. Watch the full series here: https://invest.ec/32bHev9 #InsideOOTO

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Inside Out of the Ordinary Episode I – Process

2020-02-21

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“It is impossible to encompass the complexity of today’s world at any given moment, let alone to process it on an ongoing basis as an individual.” John Haynes, Chairman of the Investec Wealth & Investment’s Global Investment Strategy Group talks about the value of process in making investment decisions. Watch the full series here: https://invest.ec/32mj29P …

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The labels that show how much more international retailers charge Swiss

2020-02-21

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2020-02-21

To simplify labelling, many international retailers put recommended retail prices (RRP) for multiple nations on the same label, like the one below. The Swiss retail price premium laid bare.Labels such as these show how much more Swiss customers are being charged compared to customers in other countries.

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New Swiss aid budget proposes more funds but for fewer countries

2020-02-20

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2020-02-20

The Swiss government wants to set aside CHF11.25 billion ($11.43 billion) in development aid for the 2021-2024 period. The governing Federal Council adopted its Strategy for International Cooperation on Wednesday after opening it up for public consultation. It will still have to be approved by parliament.

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Tax on legal weed repealed

2020-02-20

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2020-02-20

The Swiss Federal Court has ruled that cannabis – the legal, low-THC version – should not be subject to the tobacco tax. Responding to the complaints of three cannabis production companies, the court found that there was no legal basis for a 25% tobacco tax on the sales price of cannabis. The tax will be dropped immediately.

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Car emissions rising due to imported guzzlers, says report 

2020-02-19

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2020-02-19

New cars imported into Switzerland have not been respecting the prescribed norms on CO2 emissions, with emission levels actually rising in 2017 and 2018, says a report published on Tuesday. Nearly half of importers failed to meet compulsory targets in 2018, according to the Federal Office of the Environment’s report for parliament. 

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Portugal set to end tax holidays for foreign residents

2020-02-18

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2020-02-18

Recently, the government of Portugal said it was looking at introducing a tax on foreigners residing in the country on special tax holidays, according to the magazine Bilan. Currently, foreigners moving to Portugal who spend at least 180 days a year in the country pay no income tax for a period of 10 years under a scheme that was launched 11 years ago.

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Swiss private bank Pictet to drop fossil fuel investments

2020-02-18

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2020-02-18

Recently, the private bank Pictet, based in Geneva, announced plans to eliminate all of its investments in companies actively associated with the production and extraction of fossil fuels, according to a press release.

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Swiss environmental agency sets no date for 5G launch

2020-02-17

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2020-02-17

Earlier this week, Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) announced it had contacted the cantons at the end of January 2020, informing them it had not set a date for switching on 5G networks. However, mobile networks plan to continue installing 5G equipment after rolling out more than 2,000 antenna last year – a map showing where the new antenna are can be viewed here.

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Switzerland most expensive country in 2020

2020-02-16

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2020-02-16

It will come as little surprise to many that Switzerland has been ranked the world’s most expensive country. Put together by the magazine CEO World, the ranking pulls cost of living data on accommodation, clothing, taxi fares, utilities, internet, groceries, transport, and dining out, from a number of other studies.

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Swiss worry about online data protection, want increased regulation

2020-02-16

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2020-02-16

A survey on digitalisation released this week shows people’s greatest concern revolves around the fate of their personal data, though just as many believe new technologies hold great promise, especially in the areas of medicine, education and smart cities

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“ECB Is Worst-Run Central Bank In The World” – Felix Zulauf Sees 30percent Plunge In US Stocks “Taking The World With It”

2020-02-16

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2020-02-16

Felix Zulauf was a member of the Barron’s Roundtable for about 30 years, until relinquishing his seat at our annual investment gathering in 2017. While his predictions were more right than wrong, it was the breadth of his knowledge and the depth of his analysis of global markets that won him devoted fans among his Roundtable peers, the crew at Barron’s, and beyond.

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Clariant to cut up to 600 jobs as profit falls

2020-02-15

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2020-02-15

The Swiss specialty chemicals firm Clariant says it will cut up to 600 jobs to save money after a drop in profit in 2019. The firm expects the slow economic situation this year to continue to affect demand. “For 2020, given the current sluggish economic environment and continued adverse foreign exchange conditions, growth will be more limited and additional efficiency measures have been defined for each of the businesses to support the margin...

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