The Local Switzerland

Switzerland searches for owner of 180,000 francs worth of gold bars left on train

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:53:15 +0200

Are you missing 180,000 francs (€168,000) worth of gold bars after a train journey through central Switzerland? If so, you might be in luck.

Swiss airline claims millions in compensation over diamond heist

Fri, 02 Feb 2018 09:37:54 +0100

Five years after the spectacular theft of diamonds from a Helvetic Airways plane, operator Swiss International Air Lines is demanding 48.4 million francs in compensation.

Family taken hostage in Swiss gold heist

Fri, 12 Jan 2018 18:10:51 +0100

A family were taken hostage in Switzerland on Friday to force the head of a precious metals company to hand over large amounts of gold, police said.

Swiss village gets to keep abandoned gold bars

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 11:10:48 +0200

The village of Klingnau in the canton of Aargau just got a bit richer: the commune is now allowed to keep 100,000 francs worth of gold bars that were found in a field five years ago.

Study: Swiss sewage rich with gold and silver

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 15:00:32 +0200

Three million francs worth of gold and silver is lost from wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland every year, according to a new study.

Priest disguised gold bars as Swiss chocolate to evade customs

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 12:21:34 +0100

Customs officials in India have fined a priest working in a parish in Switzerland for hiding three gold ingots disguised as chocolate bars in his baggage, Indian media reported.

Former U20 football star caught stealing gold

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 11:51:18 +0100

A former player for Switzerland’s under-20 football team was caught stealing a gold ingot worth 9,000 francs ($8,950) from a precious metals shop in the canton of Aargau, according to media reports on Wednesday.

Why the Swiss central bank needs more gold

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:27:00 +0100

Eric Schreiber, an independent asset manager based near Morges in the canton of Vaud, argues why Swiss voters should say "yes" to a referendum initiative that calls on the Swiss National Bank to hold more gold.

Financial markets brace for Swiss 'gold' vote

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 12:14:00 +0100

As Switzerland prepares to vote this month on whether to force the country's central bank to increase its gold reserves, economists warn a 'Yes' vote could wreak havoc in financial markets.

Central bank chief calls gold proposal 'fatal'

Sun, 16 Nov 2014 23:31:00 +0100

Switzerland’s central bank has come out swinging against a proposal that would require it to boost the share of gold in its assets to at least 20 percent while prevent it from selling any bullion.

Gold reserves boost Swiss national profits

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 13:15:21 +0100

The Swiss central bank reported a profit equivalent to 23.6 billion euros for the first nine months of the year on gains from currency trading and a rise in the value of its gold reserves.

Swiss firm 'gained gold from Congo conflict'

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:44:00 +0100

A Geneva-based non-governmental organization claimed on Monday that a Swiss company laundered gold ore pillaged by an illegal armed group from conflict-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fifty kilos of gold stolen from Zurich-bound plane

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:17:00 +0200

An investigation is continuing into the mysterious theft of 50 kilograms of gold bound for Zurich on a plane from Paris.

Italy foils Swiss-based gold smugglers

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:52:00 +0100

Italian police on Thursday seized €163 million ($207 million) worth of assets from a criminal association headquartered in Switzerland, as well as a luxury villa used as a safehouse for stashing gold.

Workers find gold bars in Swiss bushes

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 18:19:00 +0200

Two council workers in Switzerland could be in for an unexpected windfall after finding gold ingots worth 124,000 francs ($126,000) behind a bush, it was reported on Thursday.

Far-right party wants to 'save Swiss gold'

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:12:00 +0200

Switzerland's biggest political party SVP is seeking to stop the central bank from selling the country's gold reserves through a citizen's initiative launched on Tuesday.

Vanishing Vietnam gold causes record surplus

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:10:00 +0200

The Swiss trade surplus hit a record in May, with imports plunging during the month as gold imports from Vietnam vanished, the Swiss customs authority said on Thursday.