Archive – Banking & Fintech

Watchdog short-circuits power alliance

This content was published on Dec 23, 2004 The probe, which could take up to four months, wrecks January’s planned launch of the new firm, Swissgrid. Seven of the country’s largest electricity grid operators, Atel, BKW-FMB, CKW, EGL, EOS, EWZ and NOK, want to unite to give Switzerland a single voice in dealing with cross-border energy transmission. But the Competition Commission (Comco) said…

Mountains no economic barrier to farming

This content was published on Dec 22, 2004 swissinfo takes a look at lessons Switzerland can learn from its alpine neighbour ten years after Austria joined the EU. This third of four reports focuses on agriculture. “We had no idea what joining the EU meant,” says farmer Angelika Schloffer. As Schloffer speaks, she is operating a stainless steel machine set up in a…

Government unveils new round of spending cuts

This content was published on Dec 22, 2004 The latest savings plan will result in further cuts to public spending, but the package still has to be approved by parliament. Last year parliament approved a government proposal for cuts of SFr3 billion. Now the government has requested additional savings of SFr2 billion until 2008. It says the aim of the latest round of…

Unions angered by “modest” pay rise

This content was published on Dec 21, 2004 Travail Suisse – one of the largest employees’ unions – said an average pay rise of 1.0 per cent next year would not encourage consumer spending and boost the economy. At a press conference in Bern on Tuesday, Travail Suisse, the Syna, Transfair and Hotel&Gastro unions said workers would be no better off next year…

November brings glad tidings to watch industry

This content was published on Dec 21, 2004 The value of exports amounted to SFr1.26 billion ($1.1 billion), helping to make it a bumper year for the Swiss watch industry. This is the first time the SFr10 billion mark has been exceeded after 11 months. The November figure represents a rise of more than 12 per cent compared with the same period last…

Study finds Swiss firms keep it in the family

This content was published on Dec 20, 2004 The report also found that six of the 20 largest companies listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SWX) are family-run. The study, carried out in conjunction with the Swiss Institute for Small- and Medium-sized Businesses at St Gallen University, found that family-owned companies represented a “significant” part of Switzerland’s corporate structure. Just under 100 of…

Industrial production rises but at slower pace

This content was published on Dec 20, 2004 The figures are being seen as further evidence that the economic recovery has lost some of its momentum. According to the Federal Statistics Office, production was up by 3.5 per cent compared with the same period last year, and sales increased by 4.2 per cent. Orders to Swiss industry – an indicator of future industrial…

Tide turns in battle against BSE

This content was published on Dec 17, 2004 The Federal Veterinary Office attributed the decrease to preventive measures taken since the first case was recorded in 1990. But the office’s director warned that Switzerland was not yet free of mad cow disease. “We can still expect to see cows infected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE),” said Hans Wyss in Bern on Friday. According…

Swiss reject WTO criticism of farm subsidies

This content was published on Dec 17, 2004 In an interview with swissinfo, Luzius Wasescha said the criticism was “unjustified” and that 2005 would be a “make or break year” for global trade talks. The WTO wrapped up its regular review of Swiss trade policy this week, saying that the country’s level of subsidies for farming had not changed in four years (see…

National Bank defends interest-rate decision

This content was published on Dec 16, 2004 In an interview with swissinfo, Jean-Pierre Roth said the economic recovery was not proving to be as dynamic as expected. Businessmen and economists have welcomed the decision to leave the rate unchanged after two successive rises earlier this year. The Swiss Business Federation, economiesuisse, which warned last week that the Swiss economic recovery was now…

Archive – Banking & Fintech

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Archive – Banking & Fintech

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Watchdog short-circuits power alliance

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Mountains no economic barrier to farming

More

Government unveils new round of spending cuts

More

Unions angered by “modest” pay rise

More

November brings glad tidings to watch industry

More

Study finds Swiss firms keep it in the family

More

Industrial production rises but at slower pace

More

Tide turns in battle against BSE

More

Swiss reject WTO criticism of farm subsidies

More

National Bank defends interest-rate decision

Popular Stories

Most Discussed