Archive – Banking & Fintech

Insurers keep a cool head over tsunami costs

This content was published on Dec 30, 2004 Although the exact costs to the insurance sector are still hard to assess, insurance companies do not appear to be too concerned. More than 80,000 people are now known to have lost their lives when Sunday’s earthquake in the Indian Ocean sent huge tidal waves sweeping over the shores of Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India.…

Switzerland for the outside world

This content was published on Dec 27, 2004 For swissinfo itself, his priorities are to provide more information and services to the Swiss living abroad, and to better integrate swissinfo’s website into the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation’s multimedia operations. swissinfo: You became director of swissinfo on January 1. How do you see your role? Beat Witschi: I helped to create the web platform, swissinfo,…

Cost of living to rise in 2005

This content was published on Dec 25, 2004 Economists are predicting that inflation – 0.8 per cent this year – will average between 1.3 and 1.5 per cent in 2005. Health insurance premiums will rise on average 3.7 per cent next year, and a hefty 5.5 per cent for people between the ages of 19 and 26. According to the Swiss Institute for…

Taxing time for transport policy

This content was published on Dec 25, 2004 In this fourth report in a special series comparing Switzerland and Austria, swissinfo finds that the road to Brussels can be a dirty one. Approaching the Austrian city of Innsbruck from the Brenner Pass, a thick layer of smog hovers over the city, trapped by the high mountain walls on its north and south flanks.…

What can Switzerland learn from Austria?

This content was published on Dec 24, 2004 Starting a series to mark the tenth anniversary of Austria joining the European Union, swissinfo talks to Rudolf Walser – chief economist at Swiss business federation economiesuisse – about the “land next door”. Criticism of the Swiss economy tends to focus on the country’s comparatively low rate of economic growth and the need for major…

Unwanted gifts will be wanted elsewhere

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 The operation, called “Twice Christmas”, is collecting surplus gifts and will distribute them with the help of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, Swiss Post and the Swiss Red Cross. The initiative, which is now in its eighth year, was the result of a pre-Christmas brainstorming among staff of a consumer programme at German-language Swiss radio. The…

Swiss wine of 2004 will be a corker

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 The harvest will also be bigger than in 2003. “The 2004 vintage was one accompanied by many fears,” commented Philippe Herminjard at the Federal Office for Agriculture. He said that until the end of August, bad weather conditions were pointing to a poor year compared with the excellent 2003 vintage. “Thankfully, the month of September…

Tourists to get high on fresh air

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 More than a marketing ploy, the “pure air” claim will be backed by the findings of scientific studies proving the health benefits of high altitude holidays. “Resorts are rediscovering fresh mountain air and its corresponding health benefits as an asset that can be marketed,” says researcher Rafael Matos. The air is more than fresh in…

Innovation drive loses impetus

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 But a study shows the Swiss are lagging behind when it comes to staff training and there is an overall lack of funding for projects. The latest European Innovation Scoreboard survey puts Switzerland in fifth position behind Japan, Sweden, Finland and the United States. The study, published on Thursday, covers European Union member states, the…

Sprouts get a better taste for Christmas

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 The agroindustrial firm – which supplies 80 per cent of Europe’s sprout seeds – has brought glad tidings to Christmas lunch by cultivating sweeter tasting varieties. For many, the Brussels sprout is a bitter pill to swallow – its acrid flavour means it is the least popular of vegetables in some parts of the world.…

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