Business Outlook

It is expected to be a quiet week for corporate news with most companies having already released their half-year figures.

Only the wholesale and retailing group, Valora, is publishing numbers this week. They come through on Wednesday and analysts will be looking for an improved performance to give a boost to the company’s sluggish stock price.

The franc’s rate on the currency markets will again be the subject of strong attention. It briefly reached a historic high against the euro last week before slipping back. Against the dollar, however, it remains weak at around the $1.77 mark.

Industrial production figures are released on Thursday. The last set saw a rise of 12 per cent and economists will be expecting a lower increase as evidence that the economy is beginning to cool.

Negotiatiors with China will continue to try to seal a trade agreement that will pave the way for Beijing’s entry to the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation.
Berne is looking for concessions for Swiss watch manufacturers and insurance companies.

And finally, Wednesday sees the opening day of the closed-door International Conference on Banking Supervision in Basel. The focus will be on revisions to the Basel Accord, the standard used to determine whether banks have adequately covered risk.

by Michael Hollingdale