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Europeans target watch makers over parts supply

This content was published on Aug 8, 2011 Swatch Group of Biel, which owns Breguet, Blancpain and Omega, confirmed it was a target of the investigation by the European Commission. The commission is to examine claims that several luxury watch companies colluded to exclude independent repairers from the market. “It concerns almost the entire watch industry. We are confident regarding the outcome of…

Swissmetal conflict still unresolved

This content was published on Aug 8, 2011 The decision by the bank, Swissmetal’s principal mortgage holder, not to reopen the plant in Dornach prompted demonstrations on Monday by some 70 employees at a branch of the bank in Basel. Swissmetal and the lending institution are still negotiating a deal that would enable the employees to return to work at the Dornach plant.…

Newspapers react to S&P “wake-up call”

This content was published on Aug 8, 2011 Friday’s decision by credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to strip the US government of its top credit rating wasn’t unexpected, but it adds to growing fears that the world’s number one economy may be headed back into recession. “So now it’s official what everyone already knew – for years. The US is nowhere near…

Blowing-up the solar power market

This content was published on Aug 7, 2011 Felix Tiefenbacher and Samuel Kutter of Vienna-based Heliovis have seen the future and the future is sausage shaped and inflatable. The prototype is impressive: a 35-metre long tube, two metres in diameter. The final 200-metre long device is due on the market in 2016. The solar innovators have permission to assemble and test their device…

Overnight stays decline in the first half

This content was published on Aug 5, 2011 Those coming from abroad dropped to 9.9 million, down 0.9 per cent compared with the year before. However, the statistics office said the impact of the strong Swiss franc had for the time being had a limited effect. In a statement on Friday, it said the number of overnight stays had increased by 2.8 per…

Bern scientists contribute to Mars discovery

This content was published on Aug 5, 2011 Recently analysed images from the United States space agency’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite show dark, finger-like features that extend down some slopes and crater walls on the planet during its late spring and summer, fading in the Martian winter. On board the satellite was a device developed by Bern University’s Space Research and Planetary Sciences…

Dufry acquires more operations

This content was published on Aug 5, 2011 The new businesses are Interbaires, the leading airport retailer in Argentina, airport retail operations in Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Martinique, as well as a wholesale platform This will add 21 shops in ten airports. Dufry has paid a price of $957 million (SFr735 million). In a statement on Thursday, Dufry claimed the acquisitions marked “exciting…

Profit at Givaudan takes a tumble

This content was published on Aug 4, 2011 The problems have been the record-high Swiss franc and rising raw material prices. Givaudan, which makes food flavours as well as fragrances for Dior and Prada perfumes, is grappling with slowing consumer demand that may make it more difficult to push through the price rises necessary to offset higher costs for raw materials. “Givaudan expects…

Swiss cheese priced out of market

This content was published on Aug 4, 2011 Hardest hit was Switzerland’s biggest seller, Emmental (sometimes known simply as Swiss cheese in North America), with a decline of 17 per cent or 7,548 tons compared with the same period last year. Officials from the dairy industry said Emmental in particular has been impacted by the strength of the Swiss franc since there are…

Swiss Re reports strong result for Q2

This content was published on Aug 4, 2011 The Zurich company, which basically insures insurers, said it had a net profit of $960 million (SFr746 million), compared with $812 million achieved in the same time the previous year. Swiss Re, the world’s second-largest reinsurer, easily beat a poll by Reuters which had mentioned a profit figure of $545 million. The company’s chief executive,…

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Europeans target watch makers over parts supply

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Swissmetal conflict still unresolved

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Newspapers react to S&P “wake-up call”

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Blowing-up the solar power market

More

Overnight stays decline in the first half

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Bern scientists contribute to Mars discovery

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Dufry acquires more operations

More

Profit at Givaudan takes a tumble

More

Swiss cheese priced out of market

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Swiss Re reports strong result for Q2

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