Tag Archive: Business

Chinese companies choose Switzerland over US and UK to raise money overseas

2023-03-08

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2023-03-08

Chinese companies are flocking to Switzerland to raise capital after being discouraged from listing in the US by geopolitical tensions and in Britain by tougher audit standards.

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Former top Credit Suisse shareholder Harris Associates sells out of bank

2023-03-06

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2023-03-06

One of Credit Suisse’s longest-standing shareholders has sold its entire stake in the scandal-hit Swiss bank after losing patience with its strategy amid persistent losses and a client exodus.

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Six numbers that show why Credit Suisse has little leeway

2023-02-15

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2023-02-15

Disappointing results leave no more room for accidents as the bank carries out restructuring. It has been a year since Axel Lehmann took over as chair of accident-prone Credit Suisse and about half that since Ulrich Körner became chief executive. But they have yet to stem the problems at Switzerland’s second-biggest bank, caused by a succession of historic scandals and mismanaged risk – from the blow-up of the Archegos family office to the...

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Switzerland’s ‘cash initiative’ – what’s at stake?

2023-02-13

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2023-02-13

Swiss citizens look set to vote on a people’s initiative to try to ensure their economy never becomes cashless. What do the campaigners behind the idea really want?

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Where did it all go wrong for Credit Suisse?

2023-02-12

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2023-02-12

Widespread analysis of what went wrong at Credit Suisse converges on a constant theme: an international bank that lost touch with its Swiss roots, led by people who put profits ahead of prudence. 

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Public sector workers strike in western Switzerland for higher wages

2023-02-11

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2023-02-11

Around 3,500 public sector workers in the western Swiss canton of Vaud took part in a strike on Thursday. They are calling for wage indexation to keep up with inflation and rising living costs.

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Not enough clarity in recycling sector, Swiss oversight body says

2023-02-10

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2023-02-10

The Federal Audit Office says there needs to be more transparency around the various fees and taxes which fund Switzerland’s recycling system. The auditors wrote on Wednesday that CHF176 million ($192 million) in recycling taxes and fees were collected in 2019: these included state-organised prepaid disposal fees on glass and batteries, and voluntary, private sector-run contributions on PET packaging, aluminium, tin cans, electrical appliances and...

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SWISS to resume regular passenger flights to China

2023-02-08

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2023-02-08

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) says it will resume passenger flights to the Chinese city of Shanghai early next month following an easing of travel restrictions.

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The most critical questions about the Swiss central bank’s huge losses

2023-02-07

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2023-02-07

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) booked a CHF132 billion ($143 billion) loss in 2022 and suspended profit-sharing transfers to the Confederation and cantons. What does that mean exactly? And how does the SNB fare in international comparison?  Fabio Canetg More from this author Last year, the SNB lost more money than ever before. And it is not alone: central banks around the world also recorded heavy losses. As a...

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Banking secrecy exception proposed for Swiss media

2023-02-05

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2023-02-05

Swiss journalists could in future receive leaked bank data without fear of criminal prosecution if a parliamentary motion is incorporated in banking secrecy legislation.

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Switzerland looks to safeguard gas supplies for winter 2023-2024

2023-02-02

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2023-02-02

With an eye on possible shortages next winter, the government plans to repeat this year’s mitigation strategy of buying reserve stocks. The decision is a repeat of what the government already outlined in May 2022: to head off possible winter gas shortages, authorities want to ensure that the country has six terawatt hours’ worth of gas in reserve stocks in neighbouring countries.

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UBS profits rise after Credit Suisse client defections

2023-02-01

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2023-02-01

UBS enjoyed a 23% rise in pre-tax profits in the final quarter as it benefited from clients switching from rival Credit Suisse. The Swiss bank on Tuesday reported $1.7 billion (CHF1.58 billion) of net profit in the final three months of 2022, comfortably ahead of analyst estimates of $1.3 billion, bringing the group’s profit for the year to $7.6 billion.

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Covid: 140 million masks set to expire this year

2023-01-30

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2023-01-30

The Swiss government is sitting on a mountain of hygiene masks, bought for the Covid-19 pandemic, and is now desperately looking for alternative uses so they don’t have to be destroyed, according to the SonntagsZeitung.

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Why Western companies still can’t quit Russia

2023-01-29

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2023-01-29

Despite public and political pressure, the mass exodus of Western firms from Russia hasn’t materialised according to a recent study. Why aren’t more cutting ties with Russia despite pledges to do so?

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Swiss start-up funding quadruples within five years

2023-01-28

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2023-01-28

The volume of venture capital that helps aspiring companies get off the ground in Switzerland quadrupled to CHF4 billion ($3.7 billion) between 2017 and 2022.

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Surfing the American wave: Swiss watch exports reach new heights

2023-01-27

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2023-01-27

Last year Swiss watch exports surpassed CHF24 billion ($26 billion) for the first time. The positive trend is expected to continue into 2023. Journalist and deputy head of the swissinfo.ch editorial group for German, French and Italian. Earlier, worked for Teletext and Switzerland’s French-language national broadcaster.

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Swiss president remains tight-lipped on ‘Covid leaks’

2023-01-27

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2023-01-27

Alain Berset told his ministerial colleagues on Wednesday that he had no knowledge of leaks from his department to the media. In public however Berset remains reluctant to give further information.

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Company takeovers and mergers on the rise in Switzerland

2023-01-26

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2023-01-26

Despite the volatile situation on financial markets and the war in Ukraine, the number of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) reached a record high in Switzerland in 2022.

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Why can’t the Swiss National Bank go bankrupt?

2023-01-24

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2023-01-24

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) will make a loss of CHF132 billion in 2022, and distribution of profits to the confederation and the cantons will be suspended. What does this mean for the stability of the SNB and what would happen if it faces another large loss?

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What happens if the debt ceiling raises

2023-01-20

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2023-01-20

It’s that time again when the US government has to prepare itself for an internal battle to raise the debt ceiling so it can meet various obligations. This is a merry dance that has been danced before, as we mention below.

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