SNB’s Jordan Can Take More Franc Measures Immediately If Needed

Sept. 24 (Bloomberg) — The Swiss National Bank can take measures to supplement its cap on the franc “immediately,” should such steps be warranted, its President Thomas Jordan said.

“The minimum exchange rate remains for the foreseeable future the key monetary policy instrument,” he said yesterday in a speech in St. Gallen, Switzerland. “We’re prepared to buy unlimited amounts of foreign currencies and, if necessary, take further measures immediately.”

Three years ago, the SNB set a cap of 1.20 per euro on the franc to fend off deflation and a recession. SNB policy makers have repeatedly pledged to take further measures if warranted to safeguard the Swiss economy, a view Jordan reiterated yesterday.

“We will continue to defend the minimum exchange rate with utmost determination,” he said. “The franc remains highly valued, and we have no inflation risks in Switzerland.”

The SNB cut its inflation and growth forecasts last week, due to weak momentum in the euro area, the biggest destination for Swiss exports. The SNB, based in Zurich and Bern, sees output expanding “just below” 1.5 percent this year, compared with its previous forecast of 2 percent, and consumer prices rising 0.1 percent. It foresees inflation rates of 0.2 percent for 2015 and 0.5 percent in 2016, down from an earlier prediction for rates of 0.3 percent and 0.9 percent respectively.

Some economists have speculated the SNB could mimic the European Central Bank and enact a charge on banks’ excess reserves to stem a rise in the franc. The Frankfurt-based ECB enacted a negative deposit rate in June and deepened it to minus 0.2 percent earlier this month.

Yesterday, the franc was little changed against the euro at 1.2075 at 7 p.m. in Zurich, while against the dollar the franc stood at 93.99 centimes.

The SNB hasn’t intervened in currency markets to defend the 1.20 per euro cap in two years, Jordan said in an interview last week.

To contact the reporter on this story: Catherine Bosley in Zurich at [e-mail] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Fergal O’Brien at [e-mail]