Archive – Banking & Fintech

Syngenta reaps bumper harvest

This content was published on Feb 10, 2005 The Swiss agrochemicals concern said that sales were up by 11 per cent to $7.27 billion, helped by improving agricultural markets and new products. The company, based in Basel, announced on Thursday that earnings per share had gone up from $2.45 in 2003 to $4.34 last year, adding that it would return more than $1…

Arafat’s “Swiss banker” denies wrongdoing

This content was published on Feb 9, 2005 A spokesman for Geneva-based Lombard Odier Darier Hentsch (LODH) said allegations that funds from the account were transferred without proper oversight were “completely unfounded”. Arafat, who was the leader of the Palestinian cause for more than 40 years, died last November in a Paris hospital. LODH head of corporate communications Jérôme Koechlin confirmed a report…

Federal Railways’ freight arm signals profit

This content was published on Feb 9, 2005 The freight arm recorded a total of 10.1 billion tonne-kilometres in 2004 – an increase of more than 1 billion tonne-kilometres compared with the previous year. “Last year laid the foundations for the company to achieve the ambitious goals that we have set for ourselves this year,” commented Daniel Nordmann, head of the Federal Railways’…

End of an era as Nestlé chairman bows out

This content was published on Feb 9, 2005 The formidable banker was regarded as heading the generation of managers who have controlled the levers of economic power over the past 30 years. In April, 72-year-old Gut will be stepping down from his last major post. For age reasons, he is obliged to give up his seat on the company board. Exit Switzerland’s most…

UBS raises bar for 2005

This content was published on Feb 8, 2005 CEO Peter Wuffli said on Tuesday that he expected Asia to be a key growth area in 2005 but he stressed that UBS was not dependent on any one region – or on any single business activity. “Record results are easy to announce, but not so easy to beat. We have set ourselves a high…

Chocolate makers taste sweet success

This content was published on Feb 8, 2005 Following a dip in 2003, due to a hot summer, exports accounted for more than half of Switzerland’s total chocolate production. Chocosuisse, the industry association representing 18 Swiss chocolate manufacturers, said exports increased 13.3 per cent last year to SFr551 million. The industry recorded a marked increase in sales in central Europe and most countries…

UBS records best result in its history

This content was published on Feb 8, 2005 UBS attributed the record result, which topped forecasts by financial analysts, to solid financial markets and higher revenues from wealth management businesses. “This is the best annual result in UBS’s history. We believe it reflects our strong emphasis on growth,” chief executive Peter Wuffli said in a statement. UBS attracted SFr88.9 billion in net new…

Swiss arms exports reach 16-year high

This content was published on Feb 8, 2005 The total volume of sales was up 6.2 per cent on the previous year at SFr402.4 million, thanks in particular to an increase in orders for armoured vehicles. This was the fourth consecutive annual increase in weapons exports. Armoured vehicles made up nearly half the arms exports in 2004. But arms sales accounted only for…

Why Switzerland is not “Nokia-Land”

This content was published on Feb 7, 2005 That is one of the key findings of a new book by IT and telecommunications expert Xavier Comtesse, who heads the Geneva office of the country’s leading think-tank, Avenir Suisse. In an interview with swissinfo, Comtesse says Swiss weakness in this key sector has substantial knock-on effects for the whole economy. He points out that…

Swiss presents plans for pilot job cuts

This content was published on Feb 6, 2005 The announcement follows reports in the Sunday press that just over 300 pilots could lose their jobs. Swiss spokesman Jean-Claude Donzel said the company had handed over a document to the unions with details of how many jobs would be cut. The move was confirmed by Christoph Frick, the president of Swiss Pilots, the union…

Archive – Banking & Fintech

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Archive – Banking & Fintech

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Syngenta reaps bumper harvest

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Arafat’s “Swiss banker” denies wrongdoing

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Federal Railways’ freight arm signals profit

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End of an era as Nestlé chairman bows out

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UBS raises bar for 2005

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Chocolate makers taste sweet success

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UBS records best result in its history

More

Swiss arms exports reach 16-year high

More

Why Switzerland is not “Nokia-Land”

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Swiss presents plans for pilot job cuts

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