Category Archive: 3.) Swissinfo Business and Economy

Golf becomes big business in Switzerland

Half a billion francs a year: golf in Switzerland is no longer just a sport, but a booming economic ecosystem. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Driving this is an increasingly sophisticated business model that ranges from membership fees to the sale of shares, as well as involving companies through sponsorships. …

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A third of Swiss chief financial officers expect local job cuts

According to a survey by the consulting firm Deloitte, Swiss chief financial officers (CFOs) are somewhat pessimistic about the future. In view of the strong Swiss franc and the US tariffs, many expect local jobs to be relocated abroad. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox According to the survey of 119 …

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Swiss pharma exports to Russia continue despite war

More than three and a half years after Moscow's attack on Ukraine, exports of the Swiss pharmaceutical industry to Russia remain largely stable. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Companies justify this with their responsibility towards patients, but there is no shortage of criticism. According to figures from the Federal Customs …

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Swiss exports to US rebound in September

Swiss exports to the United States have overcome previously weak growth by posting a significant rise in September. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Exports to all parts of the world rose by a seasonally adjusted nominal 3.4% to CHF22.8 billion, as reported by the Federal Office for Customs and Border …

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France’s wealthy shift funds to Luxembourg and Switzerland

Political turmoil and tax threats have accelerated investment flows to havens, asset managers say. French entrepreneurs and wealthy families nervous about political turmoil at home are investing record amounts in Luxembourg-based annuities and shifting other funds to perceived havens such as Switzerland. Wealth managers, bankers and lawyers said the flow of personal investments out of …

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Half-fare travel card here to stay, says Swisspass chief

Helmut Eichhorn, CEO of Alliance SwissPass, told the SonntagsBlick newspaper that the half-fare travel card for public transport will be maintained, following headlines in the press that it would be discontinued. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The price reduction on travel on trains, buses, trams and boats with the current …

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Radical-Liberals back Switzerland-EU accords

The Swiss Radical-Liberal Party is in principle in favour of the new package of agreements negotiated by the European Union and Switzerland. Party delegates in Bern voted 330-104 to support the packages. Nine delegates abstained from voting. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Before the vote, supporters and opponents of the …

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Metalor to invest CHF40 million in western Switzerland

Although Metalor aims to produce more gold in the United States, the company will not abandon its production site in Marin, canton Neuchâtel. According to its CEO, the company will invest between CHF40-50 million ($50-63 million) there over ten years. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox For Metalor, producing some of …

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Swiss firms among those leaving corporate climate initiative

A total of 893 companies have withdrawn from their climate commitments with the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). These include major Swiss companies such as Swiss Re, Zurich and Sulzer. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox This number corresponds to 7% of all companies that had signed up to the initiative. …

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Patent battle in India tests Roche’s grip on rare disease market

An Indian court has cleared the way for low-cost alternatives to Roche’s drug Evrysdi for spinal muscular atrophy. What’s behind the decision and what could it mean for rare disease patients everywhere? On October 9 the Delhi High Court refused to issue Roche an injunction to prevent generic manufacturers from making and selling a low-cost …

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Up to 200 Swiss companies targeted by ransomware hacker group

The hacker group Akira has intensified its activities in Switzerland. Around 200 companies have fallen victim to ransomware attacks. The damage currently amounts to several million francs and several hundred million dollars worldwide. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has been …

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Swiss construction workers vote to strike over work hours dispute

More than 20,000 Swiss construction workers have voted in favour of strike action, two labour unions, Unia and Syna, said on Thursday. While a new national agreement is being discussed, the question of working hours remains as divisive as ever. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox "Construction workers are at …

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Credit Suisse loses Greensill lawsuit against Softbank

Swiss bank Credit Suisse, which was taken over by rival UBS, has lost a lawsuit in the United Kingdom against the Japanese investment group Softbank over claims related to Greensill funds. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Credit Suisse had been seeking damages from Softbank totalling $440 million (CHF350 million). …

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Swiss economists expect slower growth due to US tariffs

The Swiss economy is not gaining momentum, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said on Thursday, pointing to United States President Donald Trump's tariffs as the culprit. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The federal government's group of economic experts is forecasting growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) …

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Nestlé to cut thousands of jobs in next two years

The new CEO of the Swiss food giant Nestlé, Philipp Navratil, announced the company plans to cut 16,000 jobs globally over two years. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The cuts will include 12,000 management positions, Nestlé said on Thursday. This measure alone should reduce the cost base by CHF1 …

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Switzerland and India sign memorandum on mobility

On Wednesday, Switzerland and India signed a memorandum of understanding on mobility systems. The agreement is intended to facilitate access for Swiss companies to major Indian transport infrastructure projects. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Swiss government approved the agreement on October 8, according to a press release. The …

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Philip Morris: smoke-free cigarettes under investigation in Italy

The Italian competition authority announced on Wednesday that it had opened an investigation into Philip Morris Italia for promoting smoke-free electronic cigarettes. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The Italian subsidiary of the major American cigarette manufacturer, whose operational headquarters are in Lausanne, is suspected of “incorrect commercial practices” after …

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Swiss medtech fears major blow over US tariffs

Suppliers of medical devices in Switzerland are watching closely the prospect of new customs duties in the United States, applicable to all non-US production. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The US Department of Commerce is conducting an investigation until October 17 into the importation of a range of devices …

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FINMA appeals decision on Credit Suisse AT1 bonds

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) does not intend to accept the decision of the Federal Administrative Court to write off Credit Suisse’s AT1 bonds. It is now appealing the decision to the Federal Supreme Court, as the authority announced on Wednesday. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In …

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Zurich Airport sees passenger numbers continue to rise

September was a positive month for Zurich Airport in terms of passenger numbers. The airport remains on track to surpass its annual record for passenger numbers set in 2019. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox In the ninth month of the year, more than 3 million people passed through Kloten … Continue...

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