The Local Switzerland

Football: Swiss prep for Poland clash

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 09:24:46 +0200

Experience forged in the German league will help the Swiss football team when they face Poland in the last 16 at Euro 2016 on Saturday.

'I hope Puma don't make condoms': Shaqiri

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 18:02:15 +0200

Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri says he hoped the country's shirt manufacturer Puma "doesn't make condoms" after several Swiss players ended their Euro 2016 match with France with shredded jerseys.

Swiss make football history at Euro16

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:02:03 +0200

Switzerland have qualified for the next round at the European Championships for the first time ever, thanks to a goalless draw against France.

Swiss octopus touted as next psychic Paul

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:54:36 +0200

Basel zoo’s new octopus is being touted as the next football oracle after keepers on Wednesday praised his exceptional intelligence.

Cameron's EU plans 'hijack' Davos forum

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:39:00 +0100

Several European leaders in Davos on Thursday urged Britain to stay in the European Union following UK Prime Minister David Cameron's pledge to hold a referendum on EU membership.

Swiss benefitting from euro crisis: economists

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:57:50 +0200

The Swiss economy is benefitting more than first thought from the euro crisis, economists believe.

Euro drops below 1.20 Swiss franc floor

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:27:00 +0200

The euro on Thursday dipped briefly below the 1.20 Swiss franc floor imposed by Switzerland's central bank to curb the soaring local currency.

Profits drop at Swiss bank Julius Bär

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:15:00 +0100

Swiss private bank Julius Bär posted a 26.8-percent fall in full year profits on Monday despite healthy cash inflows from emerging markets.

Central bank expects healthy profit for 2011

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:17:00 +0100

Switzerland's central bank said on Friday that it expects to post a significant profit for 2011 after taking advantage of rising gold prices and positive foreign currency trades.

Swiss central bank stands by currency cap

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:29:00 +0100

The Swiss central bank said on Thursday it would continue to enforce its cap on the franc's exchange rate against the euro, pledging to buy "unlimited" foreign currency if necessary.

US-Swiss tax deal on the way: Julius Bär chief

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:18:00 +0100

Bern and Washington could arrive within the next three or six months at a deal to regularise assets hidden by American taxpayers in Swiss banks, Julius Bär boss Boris Collardi said on Saturday.

No price cuts on imports despite strong franc

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:46:48 +0100

A study commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs says retailers have failed to lower their prices despite getting 40 percent of their products for less thanks to the growth in value of the national currency.

Central bank posts gains on high gold prices

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:20:00 +0100

The Swiss central bank said on Monday that high gold prices helped to lift its nine-month profits to 5.8 billion francs ($6.7 billion) despite massive losses on some of its foreign currency positions.

Swiss protestors to hold anti-Wall Street demo

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:09:00 +0200

Demonstrators are expected to gather on Saturday in the Swiss cities of Zurich, Geneva and Basel for protests modelled after the anti-Wall Street marches against US authorities and the banking industry.

Strong franc prompts unemployment fears

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:27:42 +0200

A leading Swiss official has expressed fears that companies will begin massive lay-offs and relocate production to more competitive countries unless the country's soaring currency can be reeled back in.

Explained: the rise and rise of the Swiss franc

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:11:00 +0200

Why did Switzerland’s currency surge into overdrive, and has enough been done to rein in the runaway franc? Contributor Meritxell Mir caught up with economist David Meier to get the lowdown on the risk of a Swiss slowdown.

Swiss cut 2012 growth forecast to 0.9%

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:04:00 +0200

The Swiss government on Tuesday cut its growth forecast for 2012 to 0.9 percent, citing a worsening world economic environment and the strength of the franc.

Central bank determined to enforce euro cap

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:59:00 +0200

The Swiss central bank pledged on Thursday to buy unlimited quantities of foreign currency to defend with "utmost determination" its cap on the franc's exchange rate against the euro.

Franc peg prompts Hungary currency action

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:47:00 +0200

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban proposed on Monday a plan to fix foreign exchange rates to help Hungarians with foreign-denominated loans hit by a soaring Swiss franc.

Franc peg irks Norway and Canada

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:16:52 +0200

Switzerland's moves this week to stem the rise of the franc were criticized on Thursday by Norwegian and Canadian officials concerned about the impact of the franc-euro peg on global currency markets.