Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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Swiss test finds toxic substances in e-cigarettes

2019-04-14

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2019-04-14

Testing commissioned by Blue Cross, a Swiss organisation focused on helping those with addictions, found toxic substances in the Iqos electronic cigarette produced by Philip Morris, according to the newspaper 20 Minutes.

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Swisscom forges ahead with 5G amid safety fears

2019-04-13

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2019-04-13

Telecoms operator Swisscom says it plans to cover 90% of Switzerland with “5G” fifth-generation mobile communications by the end of this year. “As soon as we have the concession for the new mobile frequencies, we will activate our networks,” Swisscom director Urs Schaeppi told the media on Wednesday. The networks were put in place in partnership with Swedish telecoms company Ericsson.

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Börsen-Talk vom 5. April 2019

2019-04-12

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Fondsmanager Martin Lehmann ist überzeugt, dass der Aktienmarkt noch Luft nach oben hat. Im cash-Börsen-Talk sagt er auch, welche Titel unter den Small und Mid Caps seiner Einschätzung nach weiter Potential haben.

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Medical funding from big pharma continues apace

2019-04-12

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2019-04-12

An investigative report by a group of Swiss newspapers has revealed the extent to which pharmaceutical companies are funding hospitals, doctors, and medical centres in the country. CHF458 million ($456.5 million): this was the amount paid by the 60 pharma companies based in Switzerland to various arms of the medical profession between 2015 and 2017, according to a report by the Beobachter, Handelszeitung, Blick, and Le Temps newspapers.

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More Swiss bankruptcies in 2018 than ever before

2019-04-11

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2019-04-11

Last year saw a record number of bankruptcy procedures opened in Switzerland, with almost 14,000 cases involving bust businesses and individuals. The record numbers, released on Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office, mark a 5.4% increase on 2017 and translate to overall financial losses of some CHF2 billion ($2 billion).

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Ailing fintech Monetas goes into liquidation again

2019-04-10

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2019-04-10

Bankruptcy proceedings have been reignited against troubled Swiss digital payments company Monetas more than a year after the enterprise hit serious financial difficulties. Efforts to find a new buyer appear to have come to nothing as the firm goes into liquidation.

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Hunting for the cheapest mechanical watch in Baselworld

2019-04-09

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The world’s biggest watch fair is where luxury watches from the famous Swiss brands are launched. swissinfo.ch went looking for low-budget alternatives. --- 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 our YouTube channel: Website:...

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Swiss circus dynasties celebrate centuries of tradition

2019-04-09

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Switzerland’s national circus is celebrating its 100th birthday. But it’s not the only circus dynasty in the Alpine country. The Circus Stey was founded by an English miller’s son back in 1437. Circus Nock has been going for eight generations and has its roots in Germany and Austria. The artistes learnt their skills at an …

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Watching glaciers melt in virtual reality

2019-04-09

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Swiss researchers have used virtual reality to model and help the wider public visualise how the largest Swiss glaciers will shrink by 2070 under the effects of global warming. (SRF, swissinfo.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 …

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Remembering Franz Weber

2019-04-09

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The Swiss environmentalist Franz Weber has died at the age of 91. The Basel activist was responsible for over 150 campaigns but is best known for his defence of the alpine landscape, in particular against the spread of secondary residences. — swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is …

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Foreign Investors Own 60 percent of Swiss Corporations

2019-04-09

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2019-04-09

Global financial institutions are increasingly dominating the shareholders of major Swiss companies, according to the Sunday editionexternal link of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ). The German-language newspaper points to Swiss banking giant Credit Swiss as a prime example of a financial institution where traditional shareholder democracy is eroding fast.

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Income inequality declines in Switzerland

2019-04-08

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2019-04-08

In 2016, before the effects of taxes and welfare, the highest earning 20% of Swiss households made on average 40.8 times what an average household in the bottom 20 percent made, an inequality measure known as the S80/S20. However, after taxes and welfare, including low income support, health insurance subsidies, pensions and disability benefits, the same income ratio fell to 4.4.

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Swiss regulator fires warning over buy-to-let property lending

2019-04-07

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2019-04-07

The Swiss financial regulator has warned banks that rules on mortgage lending may be further tightened if they fail to control their appetite for dishing out real estate credit. Loans tipped the one trillion franc mark in 2017 and continue to swell, particularly in the buy-to-let market.

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Switzerland continues to lure foreign companies

2019-04-07

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2019-04-07

Switzerland attracted 282 foreign firms to set up shop in the alpine state, creating 899 jobs last year, according to cantonal economic chiefs. That’s an increase of 37 companies from 2017. Switzerland is in the throes of revamping its corporate tax system to keep it line with the competition rules of the European Union and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

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Raiffeisen Switzerland bank to cut 200 jobs

2019-04-06

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2019-04-06

Switzerland’s third-largest bank says it will cut up to 200 jobs to save CHF100 million ($100 million) this year. Raiffeisen is reorganising and undertaking a cost-cutting programme. This follows a recent fraud allegation scandal involving its former chief executive.

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Steep drop in thefts in Switzerland

2019-04-06

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2019-04-06

Comparing 2018 to 2012, thefts in Switzerland fell by nearly half, according to the Federal Statistical Office. In 2012, there were a record 219,000 thefts recorded in Switzerland. By 2018, the figure had fallen to 112,000, a drop of 49%.

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Swiss likely to vote on capital tax reform plan

2019-04-05

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2019-04-05

The leftwing Young Socialist group has handed in the necessary signatures to force a nationwide vote on its proposal to increase tax on capital revenue in Switzerland. The initiative intends to tax dividends and interest on wealth by a factor of 1.5 compared with regular income tax.

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IMF predicts Swiss growth to slow to 1.1percent in 2019

2019-04-04

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2019-04-04

The Swiss economy is likely to slow in 2019, with gross domestic product growth expected to hit 1.1%, followed by a “moderate” recovery in 2020, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday. The IMF said in a concluding statement, published on Monday following a mission to Switzerland and an annual evaluation, that a “sustained regional slowdown, intensification of global trade tensions and a disruptive Brexit” would adversely affect the Swiss...

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Stadler lands $600 million order in the US

2019-04-03

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2019-04-03

Swiss railway vehicle manufacturer Stadler Rail has won a $600 million (CHF597 million) order in the United States. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTAexternal link) on Friday announced its decision to award Stadlerexternal link the contract for 127 Metro (underground) trains with two options of 25 additional trains each.

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Million franc salaries cause friction in Bern

2019-04-02

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2019-04-02

Switzerland’s government recently voted for a ceiling on the salaries of those managing public companies such as Swisscom, Swiss Post, Skyguide and Swiss Rail. In response, the board of Swiss Rail wrote to the Federal Council requesting it to soften its position. From 2020, the company wants to pay its nine senior managers CHF 5.89 million, including a salary of more than CHF 1 million to Andreas Meyer, the boss of the company.

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