Tag Archive: newslettersent

Switzerland has most expensive food and drinks in Europe

2018-06-22

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2018-06-22

Switzerland has been ranked the second-most expensive European country behind Iceland for consumer goods, which are 59% higher than the European Union average. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are particularly pricey.

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Bi-Weekly Economic Review

2018-06-22

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2018-06-22

10-Year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate 1990-2018
Is the rate hiking cycle almost done? Not the question on everyone’s minds right now so a good time to ask it, I think. A couple of items caught my attention recently that made me at least think about the possibility.  There has been for some time now a large short position held by speculators in the futures market for Treasuries.

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SNB Monetary Assessment June 2018, Introduction

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

Implied Financial Market Volatility 2017-2018
I will begin my remarks with an overview of the situation on the financial markets, before giving an update on the status of the reforms regarding reference interest rates. And in closing I would like to say a few words about our branch office in Singapore, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Situation on the financial markets Let me start with the developments on the financial markets.

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Introductory remarks by Fritz Zurbrügg

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

Fritz Zurbrugg
In my remarks today, I will present the key findings from this year’s Financial Stability Report, published by the Swiss National Bank this morning. In the first part of my speech, I will talk about the big banks, before going on, in the second part, to outline our current assessment of the situation at domestically focused banks.

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Thomas Jordan: Introductory remarks, news conference

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

Thomas Jordan
It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to the Swiss National Bank’s news conference. I will begin by explaining our monetary policy decision and our assessment of the economic situation. I would also like to briefly touch on the rejection of the sovereign money initiative by the people and the cantons as well as a publication marking the tenth anniversary of the SNB’s educational programme, Iconomix.

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FX Daily, June 21: Dollar Driven Higher

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

The half-hearted and shallow attempts by the currencies to recover appear to be emboldening the dollar bulls today,  The greenback is higher against all major and emerging market currencies today.  Demand for dollars is strong enough to offset the broader risk-off environment that is pulling stocks and core yields lower that is usually supportive of the yen. 

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Swiss Trade Balance May 2018: Foreign trade overcomes stagnation

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

Switzerland Trade Balance, May 2018
After stagnating in previous months, exports rose in May 2018. Seasonally adjusted exports rose 0.9% in one month. Imports were more dynamic, at + 3.8%. Chemistry-pharma and the vehicle sector generated 90% of growth in both traffic directions. The trade balance closed with a surplus of 2.3 billion francs.

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Driving licence loses attraction for young Swiss

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

The number of people who applied for a Swiss driving licence dropped by 2% last year, with applications from 18- to 24-year-olds down 3%. Some 5.8 million people owned a driving licence for cars in 2017, the Federal Roads Officeexternal link said on Tuesday. This 1% increase was due not only to new drivers but also to foreign licences being exchanged for Swiss ones and natural population growth, it explained.

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Global Asset Allocation Update

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

Global Asset Allocation Update
The risk budget is unchanged this month. For the moderate risk investor the allocation to bonds and risk assets is evenly split. There are changes this month within the asset classes. How far are we from the end of this cycle? When will the next recession arrive and more importantly when will stocks and other markets start to anticipate a slowdown?

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In Gold, Silver and Bitcoin We Trust? Goldnomics Podcast with Ronald-Peter Stoeferle

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

In Gold, Silver and Bitcoin We Trust? Goldnomics Podcast (Episode 5) interview with Ronald-Peter Stoferle. We interview our friend Ronald-Peter Stoeferle, partner in Incrementum in Liechtenstein and author of the must read, annual gold report ‘In Gold We Trust’ in this the fifth episode of the Goldnomics Podcast.

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The Fed’s “Inflation Target” is Impoverishing American Workers

2018-06-21

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2018-06-21

Redefined Terms and Absurd Targets. At one time, the Federal Reserve’s sole mandate was to maintain stable prices and to “fight inflation.”  To the Fed, the financial press, and most everyone else “inflation” means rising prices instead of its original and true definition as an increase in the money supply.  Rising prices are a consequence – a very painful consequence – of money printing.

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FX Daily, June 20: Fragile Stability

2018-06-20

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2018-06-20

The day began out with equity losses in Asia before a sharp recovery, perhaps initiated in China. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was up a little more than 0.5%. The Shanghai Composite fell more than 1% before closing 0.25% better.

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Cryptocurrency Technicals – Navigating the Bear Market

2018-06-20

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2018-06-20

BTC, BCH, LTC daily Comparison
Long time readers may recall that we regard Bitcoin and other liquid big cap cryptocurrencies as secondary media of exchange from a monetary theory perspective for the time being. The wave of speculative demand that has propelled them to astonishing heights was triggered by market participants realizing that they have the potential to become money.

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The price of solidarity – Switzerland’s inter-cantonal payments for 2019

2018-06-20

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2018-06-20

Switzerland - inter cantonal transfers in 2019 - CHF 000s
In Switzerland, much in life revolves around the canton. Cantons have their own health, social and education systems, parliaments and tax rates. Federal government, based in Bern, is a layer that sits over the top, bringing the cantons together as Switzerland.

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There Isn’t Supposed To Be The Two Directions of IP

2018-06-20

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2018-06-20

U.S. Industrial Production, SA 1995-2018
US Industrial Production dipped in May 2018. It was the first monthly drop since January. Year-over-year, IP was up just 3.5% from May 2017, down from 3.6% in each of prior three months. The reason for the soft spot was that American industry is being pulled in different directions by the two most important sectors: crude oil and autos.

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FX Daily, June 19: America First Clashes With Made in China 2025

2018-06-19

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2018-06-19

The escalation of trade tensions between the world's two largest economies is scaring investors, who are liquidating equities and buying core bonds.  The dollar and yen are the strongest of the major currencies.  The Swiss franc is mostly steady as it too is benefiting from the unwinding of risk trades.

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Tourist accommodation in 2017: supplementary accommodation recorded growth in overnight stays of close to 7 percent

2018-06-19

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2018-06-19

Monthly overnight stay share of the hotel industry and parahotelie in 2017
In 2017, supplementary accommodation posted a total of 15.9 million overnight stays, i.e. an increase of 6.9% compared with 2016. With 10.8 million units, Swiss visitors represented more than two-thirds of demand (68.3%), i.e. a rise of 7.0%. Foreign visitors registered a 6.6% increase with 5.0 million units. Among this clientele, European visitors generated the most overnight stays with a total of 4.2 million (+8.4%).

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Rail workers stand against proposed cuts

2018-06-19

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2018-06-19

Some 1,400 rail workers took to the streets across the country on Monday to protest a package of cuts and reforms planned by the Swiss Federal Railways. The demonstrations, called for by the Union for public transport workers (SEV), were spread across several Swiss cities: Geneva, Lausanne, Olten, Bern, and Zurich, where the largest event brought together about 350 workers in the late afternoon.

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Emerging Markets: Week Ahead Preview

2018-06-19

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2018-06-19

EM FX was mixed on Friday but capped off a largely losing week. MYR, CLP, and CNY were the best performers over the last week, while ARS, TRY, and ZAR were the worst. We expect EM FX to continue weakening, but note that with very few fundamental drivers this week, we may see some consolidation near-term.

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Lift-Off Not (Yet) – Precious Metals Supply and Demand

2018-06-19

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2018-06-19

Gold and Silver Prices
Keith Weiner’s weekly look on Gold. Gold and silver prices, Gold-Silver Price Ratio, Gold basis and co-basis and the dollar price, Silver basis and co-basis and the dollar price.

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