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Confidence grows in economy

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 The research centre at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) asked 7,100 enterprises about their perceptions of the economy. It found a largely positive outlook among the industrial, commerce and service sectors as factories increase production. The report, published on Friday, showed that manufacturing capacity had increased from 80 to 83 per cent…

Government backs cuts to unemployment scheme

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 Doris Leuthard, who also heads the economics ministry, said on Friday the government considers the cost-saving measures as “required, balanced and relevant” and that voters should approve the measure at the polls on September 26. The Swiss Trade Union Federation disagrees. The group said in a statement that the proposals will lead to job losses…

Number of jobless falls again

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 The figures show that there were 142,330 people registered as unemployed, 2,143 fewer than at the end of June. The number of those looking for employment was also down and stood at 205,604 or 3,666 fewer than the previous month. The majority of jobless are registered in cantons Zurich, Vaud, Geneva, Bern and Aargau. Seco…

Photo of a train and a young girl on it over mountain and lake background

Are Swiss trains on the right tourist track?

This content was published on Aug 6, 2010 This week the Public Transport Association announced that in December ticket prices for trains and postal buses would increase by an average of 5.9 per cent, the first major hike in public transport fares in three years. But there’s good news for tourists: the various train passes aimed at visitors will stay the same, according…

Swiss Re is back in black but doubts persist

This content was published on Aug 5, 2010 Swiss Re, which is based in Zurich, said its net profit was $812 million (SFr853.4 million) despite higher catastrophe payouts. Financial analysts polled by Reuters had expected an average profit of $359 million, following a net loss of $342 million compared with the same period a year ago. Swiss Re’s property and casualty unit delivered…

UBS ordered to pay millions in damages

This content was published on Aug 5, 2010 An arbitration panel of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (Finra) made its award in favour of the Kajeet company of Maryland, which lost business when its cash was frozen in auction rate securities in early 2008. A UBS spokeswoman said the bank “strongly disagrees with the arbitration panel’s decision… and we will file a motion…

Transocean profit tumbles after rig loss

This content was published on Aug 5, 2010 The Swiss based contractor said profit was down to $715 million (SFr753 million) due to resulting legal costs and the reduced income. The profit was lower than expected but shares of the world’s largest offshore rig contractor rose by more than four per cent in late morning trading on Thursday in Zurich to SFr59.20, its…

Swiss hotels see increase in overnight stays

This content was published on Aug 4, 2010 According to figures released by the Federal Statistics Office on Wednesday, there were 17.5 million overnight stays between January and June. That shows a 2.1 per cent increase compared with those months in 2009. There was a 2.9 per cent rise in guests from Switzerland, who accounted for 7.5 million of those stays. There was…

Labour laws questioned as 24-hour shops shut

This content was published on Aug 4, 2010 For the past two years, seven petrol stations in canton Zurich have been defying a recently introduced law on late-night trading by opening their shops from 1-5am. But no longer. In July the Federal Court upheld a general ban on opening shops at petrol stations late at night, ruling that there could be no exceptions.…

Possibly oldest yet mammoth remains found

This content was published on Aug 4, 2010 The bones and tusks uncovered while dynamiting at the quarry are thought to be between 145,000 and 230,000 years old, cantonal archaeologists said. Previous mammoth remains found in the country only go back between 14,000 and 55,000 years. Mammoths became extinct in Europe and North America around 11,500 years ago. swissinfo.ch and agencies

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Confidence grows in economy

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Government backs cuts to unemployment scheme

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Number of jobless falls again

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Are Swiss trains on the right tourist track?

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Swiss Re is back in black but doubts persist

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UBS ordered to pay millions in damages

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Transocean profit tumbles after rig loss

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Swiss hotels see increase in overnight stays

More

Labour laws questioned as 24-hour shops shut

More

Possibly oldest yet mammoth remains found

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