Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

Glencore buys Teck’s coal assets in billion dollar deal

Commodities giant Glencore is taking control of Canadian Teck's steelmaking coal business.

Read More »

Zurich Airport hits pre-pandemic traffic level in October

For the first time, the same number of passengers flew through Zurich Airport in October as before the coronavirus pandemic. The number of passengers rose significantly compared to the same month last year.

Read More »

Swiss Post readies for holiday rush amid slight parcel dip

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and then Christmas shopping: many people in Switzerland will go on a shopping spree at the end of the year. However, Swiss Post is expecting a slightly lower flood of parcels this year than in 2022.

Read More »

Swiss rental prices for apartments continue to rise

In Switzerland, rents for apartments on the market continued to rise in October. However, there were clear differences in the individual cantons. Across Switzerland, rents for new and re-rentable apartments - the so-called asking rents - rose by 0.4% in October compared to the previous month, according to the Homegate rent index published on Monday. The index advanced by 0.5 points to 123.8 points. 

Read More »

Swiss banks spend more on online advertising but lag in AI

Retail banks have increased investment in digital marketing by 16% in a bid to attract younger clients. 

Read More »

Swiss government wants to lower licence fee to CHF300

The government wants to reduce the annual radio and television licence fee from the current CHF335 ($372) to CHF300 by 2029. The turnover threshold for companies to qualify for exemption has been raised from CHF500,000 to CHF1.2 million.

Read More »

Switzerland scraps electric car tax exemption

Anyone who owns an electric car in Switzerland will have to pay automobile tax from January 1. The Federal Council decided on Wednesday to repeal this tax exemption for electric cars, which has been in effect since 1997.

Read More »

No real wage growth expected in 2024: UBS survey

Purchasing power in Switzerland is likely to remain under pressure next year. Companies surveyed by UBS want to pay their employees more wages for 2024, but higher salaries cannot compensate for the inflation.

Read More »

Swiss potato harvest expected to drop by a third

This year's potato harvest has been disappointing with growers expecting a drop of around a third compared with recent years. Yields are still difficult to estimate at the moment. The final figures will not be known until early December, Ruedi Fischer, President of the Swiss Potato Growers' Association (USPPT), told press agency Keystone-SDA.

Read More »

Will a project to reintroduce European bison into Swiss forests work?

The European bison, a species that differs slightly from its north American cousin, died out in Europe. Now it is to be reintroduced in Switzerland. Can a densely populated country tolerate such a large wild animal?

Read More »

Credit Suisse wins London lawsuit over RMBS-linked notes

Credit Suisse on Friday won a lawsuit at London’s High Court over the sale of $100 million (CHF90.47 million) of notes linked to residential mortgage-backed securities.

Read More »

Swiss authorities reportedly mull new rules to prevent bank runs

Swiss authorities and lenders, including UBS, are discussing new measures to prevent bank runs after Credit Suisse’s last-ditch rescue earlier this year, four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Read More »

UBS clash at Supreme Court tests whistleblower suit rules

The US Supreme Court considered reinstating a $900,000 (CHF810,000) jury verdict won by a fired UBS Group research strategist in a case that could make it easier for whistleblowers to win suits claiming retaliation under a federal investor-protection law.

Read More »

Fast fashion in Switzerland: why is it so bad?

Here are 3 interesting facts about fast fashion in Switzerland. Did you know that the Swiss spend the second most globally on “fast fashion”? Tell us in the comments what we’ve missed out. Click here to discover how researchers in Geneva are fighting fast fashion: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/why-switzerland-is-struggling-to-ditch-fast-fashion/48452620

Read More »

Villagers of Brienz/Brinzauls are facing an imminent rockslide

It is an emotional time for the people of Brienz/Brinzauls in Switzerland living in the shadow of a crumbling mountain, who have been told by the authorities to immediately evacuate their homes. #swissalps #rockslide #evacuation --- 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...

Read More »

Decoding the human brain

Artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT generate remarkably human-like results. But how intelligent is it really? SWI swissinfo.ch visits Lab42, a new AI lab in Davos, which is deploying playful techniques to better understand the fundamentals of human intelligence. In addition to the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering, Davos is home to several leading research institutes. The newest is Lab 42, which opened its doors in July 2022,...

Read More »

BEA 2023 – petting pigs and painting wooden cows at Bern’s big agricultural fair

The BEA is one of the most important agricultural fairs in the Swiss calendar. This year it’s celebrating its 70th edition. SWI swissinfo.ch’s Anika Rahm went to check it out and discovered that there was a lot more to see than cows and sheep. #agriculture #bern #switzerland #cow #fair #swissfood --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a...

Read More »

Neutrality – Has the Swiss way fallen out of favour? (German version with English subtitles)

One question is becoming increasingly pressing for Switzerland: Is its neutrality model still viable? Watch our discussion with philosopher Katja Gentinetta and historian Sacha Zala. This discussion was in German. Click here to see the French version: --- 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...

Read More »

Neutrality – Has the Swiss way fallen out of favour? (French version with English subtitles)

One question is becoming increasingly pressing for Switzerland: Is its neutrality model still viable? Watch our discussion with philosopher Katja Gentinetta and historian Sacha Zala. This discussion was in French. Click here to see the German version: _w --- 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...

Read More »

What people in Bern think about the climate case against the Swiss government

There is currently a group of elderly women suing the Swiss government for not doing enough to slow global warming. SWI swissinfo.ch’s Anika Rahm took to the streets of Bern to find out whether people thought it makes sense to sue a government for this reason. #voxpopuli #reporter #swiss #englishnews #onthestreet #journalist #switzerland #interviews To find out more about this story go to:...

Read More »