Category Archive: 3) Swiss Markets and News

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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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Swiss president continues on his ‘autocrat world tour 2019’

2019-11-23

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2019-11-23

Ueli Maurer, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, was set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. It is Maurer’s fourth foreign visit this year that has raised eyebrows in Switzerland.

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20 years of the Vereina tunnel

2019-11-23

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2019-11-23

On November 19, 1999, after eight years of construction, the Vereina Tunnel opened in eastern Switzerland.Connecting the Landquart – Davos Platz and the Bever – Scuol-Tarasp lines, the tunnel is 19 kilometres long and the journey through takes 18 minutes.In 20 years, it has brought various improvements to locals, tourists, and businesses.However, its construction had initially been opposed by some as it was feared that the tunnel would lead to...

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UBS Has No Choice In Passing Negative Rate Pain To Customers

2019-11-22

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2019-11-22

G4 policy rates, 2000-2020
There's been talk that the Federal Reserve will slam interest rates to zero or even negative when the next recession strikes. President Trump's support for negative interest rates has quickly increased in the last several months as the latest tracking estimates for Q4 GDP have tumbled to sub 0.4%. 

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Business is an Adventure 2019 highlights

2019-11-21

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Sir Richard Branson, in partnership with Investec, hosted the Virgin Atlantic #BusinessIsAnAdventure event in Johannesburg on 7 November 2019. This inspiring gathering brought together masters and mavericks of business for lively debates and inspirational entrepreneurial insights. Here are some of the best bits from the day. Watch the full event here: https://invest.ec/2NH6YJc #BusinessIsAnAdventure

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Factory lays off workers amid gloomy manufacturing outlook

2019-11-21

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2019-11-21

Swiss precision machine maker Mikron has laid off 25 workers, citing weak demand for its products from the global car industry. The news reflects pessimistic sentiment from Swiss manufacturers and the wider economy. Mikron announced on Tuesday that it would have to reduce headcount at a plant in southern Switzerland from its present level of 370.

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UBS unveils Year Ahead outlook for 2020 and a ‘decade of transformation’

2019-11-21

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2019-11-21

In its base case for 2020, UBS GWM forecasts growth of:
Zurich, 20 November 2019 – Stark political choices make the 2020 outlook more difficult to predict, but innovation driven by technology and sustainability will present new winners and losers over the decade ahead, according to UBS Global Wealth Management (GWM)’s new Year Ahead outlook.

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Switzerland excels at attracting talent, but can do better

2019-11-20

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2019-11-20

For the sixth consecutive year, Switzerland clinched the top spot in the annual global ranking of the Lausanne-based IMD business school. The 2019 edition of the IMD World Talent Ranking ranked Switzerland highly in the three areas assessed. It came first in appeal, second in investment and development and second in readiness. Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Luxembourg rounded out the top five.

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Julius Bär takes CHF99 million hit on ailing Italian unit

2019-11-20

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2019-11-20

Swiss wealth manager Julius Bär has downgraded its expectations for attracting new assets from rich clients and announced a CHF99 million ($100 million) write-down on its troubled Italian subsidiary Kairos. Julius Bär issued the warning on Tuesday, less than three months into the tenure of new CEO Philipp Rickenbacher.

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How breast cancer changed me

2019-11-19

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Digital transformation strategist Yavi Madurai was diagnosed with breast cancer at 28. Here’s her inspirational story about beating all the odds and how the disease transformed her for the better. Listen to the podcast here: https://invest.ec/2CUzYIo

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Things the UN does (that you might not know about)

2019-11-19

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2019-11-19

What did the United Nations ever do for us? At the risk of a bit of cliched riffing on that famous scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, this month’s column is going to take a look at things the UN does that you may not know about. And one thing in particular: promoting fair and equitable access to the internet.

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Richard Branson on entrepreneurship in turbulent times

2019-11-19

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Sir Richard Branson spoke to sme.africa founder Marnus Broodryk about how to succeed as a business in difficult economic times. The pair spoke backstage at Virgin Atlantic’s #BusinessIsAnAdventure event, hosted in partnership with Investec. Find out more: https://invest.ec/33YEAJm Get more insights from the event here: https://invest.ec/33YEAJm

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Richard Branson on youth unemployment in South Africa

2019-11-19

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Marnus Broodryk talks to Sir Richard Branson, Investec’s Co-Founder Stephen Koseff and Youth Employment Service intern Khensani Mongwe about how to tackle youth unemployment in South Africa. Find out more: https://invest.ec/2r6XEXc The panel spoke backstage at Virgin Atlantic’s #BusinessIsAnAdventure event, hosted in partnership with Investec. Get more insights from the event here https://invest.ec/2r6XEXc

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Most Swiss prefer home grown eggs, meat and dairy

2019-11-19

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2019-11-19

Recently published statistics suggest most Swiss prefer home grown animal products. Three quarters (75%) of those surveyed said they preferred Swiss eggs and more than half preferred Swiss meat (51%) and dairy products (59%).

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Swiss retailers brace for ‘Black Friday’ sales as shoppers raise credit limits

2019-11-18

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2019-11-18

The busiest shopping day of the year in the United States has become big business in Switzerland. But, some worry about the risks of consumers falling into debt and the pressure the Black Friday “holiday” puts on employees and the postal service.

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Ageing population threatens Swiss prosperity, study warns

2019-11-17

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2019-11-17

Switzerland must do more to find employment options for older citizens and increase work productivity says the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco). If not, prosperity for all will decline as the population ages. The median age of the Swiss population has risen to 43 compared to 32 in 1970. By 2060 this will rise further to 48-years-old going by current fertility rates.

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World’s Ultra-Rich Preparing For Market Crash, UBS Warns

2019-11-16

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2019-11-16

S&P 500 Index, 2013-2021
A synchronized global slowdown, with no end in sight, has spooked some of the wealthiest investors around the world, according to a new survey from UBS Wealth Management, seen by Bloomberg. UBS polled wealthy investors, who are preparing for a significant stock market correction by the end of next year. 

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Additional funds set aside for transalpine rail transport 

2019-11-15

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2019-11-15

The Swiss government has decided to earmark CHF180 million ($182 million) as part of a package to promote the transfer of heavy-goods transport from road to rail. In its bill to parliament, the government foresees an extension of payments to transport companies using freight trains until 2026 and a decrease in so-called track access charges with CHF90 million each.

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Time limit to exchange old banknotes eliminated

2019-11-15

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2019-11-15

Banknotes as old as 1976 can soon be traded in at the national bank following a decision by the federal government to eliminate the 20-year time limit. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) issues a new series of banknotes every 15 to 20 years and removes the old notes from circulation. Six months later, the old notes don’t have a legal tender and therefore can’t be used as a means of payment.

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Telecom operator Sunrise to pay up for failed deal

2019-11-14

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2019-11-14

Following shareholder pushback, Swiss telecom operator Sunrise has cancelled the purchase contract for the cable network operator UPC, officially burying the controversial deal. This is another failed attempt to challenge industry leader Swisscom.

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Cross-border workers entering Switzerland set record in 2019

2019-11-13

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2019-11-13

The number of people from neighbouring countries commuting to Switzerland for work each day reached a record 325,000 this year. The increase was felt especially in cantons Ticino and Geneva. Following a slight drop in 2018, the Swiss job market is once again attracting cross-border workers in historically high numbers. Some 325,291 peopleexternal link entered the country each day in the third quarter of 2019, beating the previous record of 316,491...

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