Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

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Fertilisers should be a humanitarian commodity, says Keytrade boss

2026-05-02

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2026-05-02

Melih Keyman, CEO of the Swiss fertiliser trading firm Keytrade, warns that the war in Iran is pushing fertilisers out of reach for those who need them most. Founded in 1997 by four traders, Keytrade is based in Thalwil, near Zurich. The company acts as a one-stop shop for nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilisers, with …

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Artificial placenta, persecution of Yenish and Sinti, and poll about immigration vote

2026-05-01

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The three news stories from Switzerland you shouldn't have missed this week: 1. The House of Representatives declared the Swiss persecution of Yenish and Sinti people to be a 'crime against humanity'. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/treatment-of-sinti-and-yenish-is-a-crime-against-humanity/91326089 2. Researchers at the University of Bern will soon be able to test how medicines taken by pregnant women are transmitted to the unborn child,...

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Anti-consumerists push for advertising-free Swiss capital

2026-05-01

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2026-05-01

An anti-consumerist alliance has launched a people's initiative calling for a ban on all commercial advertising throughout the Swiss capital. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The text of the 'Bern without advertising' initiative aims to ban consumer marketing on outdoor posters and commercial screens. Cultural posters, public and local …

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Colombia summit marks ‘historic’ step toward phase-out of fossil fuels

2026-05-01

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2026-05-01

Officials, climate advocates and financial experts from nearly 60 countries, including Switzerland, gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, this week to discuss how to move away from fossil fuels. Switzerland’s environment ambassador described the outcome as positive. “The fact that 57 countries came together to discuss openly how to gradually move away from fossil fuels is …

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What are development banks and what do they do?

2026-05-01

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2026-05-01

Development banks are becoming increasingly important in light of cuts to foreign aid by Western countries such as the United States and Switzerland. But how do these banks work, and what do they achieve for the Global South? Development banks are cooperative banks set up by states. Their aim is to promote development in other … Continue...

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Fossil fuel shock revives clean power as security priority

2026-05-01

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2026-05-01

The Middle East conflict has made it clear that dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves nations vulnerable to shocks and shortages. This makes clean energy not just a climate necessity but a national security imperative, with implications for the energy transition. More than eight weeks into the US‑Israeli conflict with Iran, the impact on global …

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Swiss bankers wary, but not spooked by Mythos AI threat

2026-05-01

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2026-05-01

The Swiss financial sector is aware of the potential threat posed by the latest artificial intelligence (AI) frontier models, such as Anthropic’s Mythos. But the authorities are unwilling to announce red alert until more is known about the technology. Mythos is deemed so powerful that it has been held back from general release by United …

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Job offers at Swiss banks hit three-year low in April

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

After a brief recovery in March, the number of vacancies at the ten largest Swiss banks plummeted in April to the lowest level since standard surveys began three years ago. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The figure confirms the long-term trend of declining recruitment in the sector. In the … Continue...

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Swiss pharma firm Novartis plans seventh US plant

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

Novartis is expanding its production capacity in the United States, with the announcement of a new site in Morrisville, North Carolina. This plant is the seventh site as part of the Swiss pharma's $23 billion (CHF18 million) investment plan in the US. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The new …

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Six climate activists appeal Swiss conviction at European Court

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

Six climate activists that demonstrated in front of Credit Suisse in 2019 are appealing their conviction for coercion to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg. They believe their rights to freedom of expression and assembly have been violated. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In total, around …

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Swiss economy shows timid signs of recovery

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

The Swiss economy is showing timid signs of recovery, but does not yet appear to be at full strength: this is the indication that emerges from the barometer of the KOF Swiss Economic Institute. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In April, the indicator stood at 97.9 points, 2.3 points … Continue reading...

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Swiss hotel industry had a good 2025

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

The Swiss hotel industry generated CHF6.2 billion ($7.8 billion) from overnight stays in 2025. This corresponds to an increase of 3.9% compared to the previous year, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on Thursday. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This growth was primarily driven by higher demand. …

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Average Swiss salaries: high, stable, yet not enough for many

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

This is what it’s about ✨ AI-generated, editorially reviewed High but steady salaries: The median full-time salary in Switzerland reached CHF 6,788 in 2022, continuing a long-term upward trend with relatively stable income distribution across earners since 2008. Inequality and differences persist: Salaries vary widely by region, education, industry, and gender—women still earn 9.5% less …

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Swiss competition watchdog investigates online advertising

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

The Swiss Competition Commission (Comco) has opened two investigations into search engine advertising. The first concerns companies in the travel sector and the second of online casinos, the authority said in a press release on Thursday. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox As part of their advertising activities, companies can …

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How the war in Iran is affecting Swiss consumers

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

Two months of war in Iran have triggered a global energy shock and knock-on effects, shutting textile factories in India, grounding planes in parts of Europe, and forcing energy rationing across southeast Asia. Switzerland has so far been relatively spared, but the crisis is beginning to bite. In Switzerland the economic fallout from the conflict, …

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Eight graphs on free movement and the Swiss economy

2026-04-30

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2026-04-30

Freedom of movement has spurred immigration from Europe into Switzerland. Swiss authorities, employers’ associations and trade unions argue that this helps meet the needs of the labour market, and that future demographic ageing will make it even more necessary. But the system also has its costs. Since 2002, nationals from European Union (EU) and European …

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Alienating Europe’s far right, alien conspiracy and tariff attack

2026-04-29

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2026-04-29

It’s been a week of alienation in the US, according to the Swiss media. This ranges from intergalactic abductions to a list of more earthly annoyances. Welcome to our press review of events in the United States. Every Wednesday we look at how the Swiss media have reported and reacted to three major stories in …

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SWISS to discontinue duty-free sales on board by end September

2026-04-29

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2026-04-29

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is discontinuing duty-free sales on its aircrafts at the end of September. The reason for the decision is falling demand, the airline announced in a press release on Wednesday. "Fewer and fewer guests are shopping on board. More and more passengers are researching products at home, comparing prices online and …

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UBS reports quarterly net profit of $3 billion

2026-04-29

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2026-04-29

UBS once again earned significantly more than expected in the first quarter of 2026. The integration of Credit Suisse is almost complete. The Swiss bank earned $3.04 billion in profits in the first three months of 2026, 80% than in the previous year, it announced on Wednesday. Analysts had expected an average of just $2.43 …

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Lafarge appeals conviction for financing terrorism

2026-04-28

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2026-04-28

Cement manufacturer Lafarge, owned by Swiss giant Holcim, and all eight other defendants, including its former CEO Bruno Lafont, have appealed their convictions for financing terrorism in Syria in 2013 and 2014. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox They were all found guilty on April 13 by the Paris Criminal …

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