Swiss banks hold SFr3.72 trillion in assets
Swiss banks boosted the amount of money they manage for customers by 8.1 per cent in 2000 to SFr3.71 trillion ($2.09 trillion), according to the latest figures from the Swiss National Bank (SNB).
The annual survey of 375 banks, released on Wednesday, includes all assets held in customer securities portfolios at both Swiss banks and Swiss affiliates of foreign banks. Not included are assets that Swiss banks manage for customers outside Switzerland.
The SNB said that a total of SFr2.056 trillion was attributable to foreign account holders (up from SFr1.847 in 1999) and SFr1.661 trillion to domestic account holders (up from SFr1.591 trillion in 1999).
About 45 per cent of the total was accounted for by private customers, and a further 45 per cent by institutional customers, with the remaining 10 per cent for commercial customers.
About half of the total holdings were in Swiss francs. Of the remainder, about 20 per cent each was held in euros and dollars, and the remaining 10 per cent in other currencies.
The SNB noted that total holdings accounted for by euro-denominated securities had amounted to 17 per cent in 1999.
The survey also showed the number of individual banks rising for the first time since 1989, up by three from 372 in 1999.
Staff numbers increased in nearly all groups of banks included in the survey, with the exception of big banks. Private banks led with an increase of 20.3 per cent.
swissinfo with agencies
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.