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Watch industry hopes to strike it lucky in 2010

This content was published on Mar 18, 2010 The event, which opens on Thursday, is a chance for companies to show off their latest watches, which are both classic and innovative – with some even including a dinosaur bone – and in general shying away from “bling-bling”. Set in the heart of Basel, the eight-day fair – considered by the industry as the…

The face of luxury

This content was published on Mar 18, 2010 Baselworld brings together exhibitors from around the world in the city of Basel and attracts up to 100,000 visitors each year. The 2010 show runs from March 18 to March 25. (Pictures: Keystone/AFP/EQ Images/Hublot/Louis Moinet)

More businesses going bankrupt

This content was published on Mar 17, 2010 A total of 490 companies went bust, according to figures published by Creditreform, the Swiss association of creditors. Creditreform described it as a “bad start for the Swiss economy in 2010”. The northwest of the country was the worst hit, with the rate of bankruptcies among companies rising by 92.9 per cent. But at a…

Swiss paradise

This content was published on Mar 17, 2010 Since the 18th century, images of Switzerland have depicted a mythical country of cows, crosses and mountains along with values such as closeness to nature, traditions and quality. An exhibition at Zurich’s museum of design, which ends on July 25, takes a look at how billboards portrayed these ideas over the years.

Forests spread in size and diversity

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 The Federal Environment Office and the Institute for Forests, Snow and Landscape Research said on Tuesday that woodlands now cover 1.28 million hectares of Switzerland, about 600 square kilometres more than 11 years ago. That new growth is about the same size as canton Glarus. The forestry inventory report, released ahead of World Forestry Day…

Swiss economy outperforms but concerns remain

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 Economists believe fading stimulus measures and listless growth across Europe could produce knock-on effects that will adversely affect the Swiss economy. Economic growth is expected to average 1.4 per cent over the year, an improvement on the projected 0.7 per cent, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) announced. Seco noted a rebounding in exports…

Natural disasters cost insurers less last year

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 The Zurich-based reinsurance company said that compared with previous years, insured losses were low due to a calm hurricane season in the United States. Swiss Re said that natural catastrophes cost insurers $22 billion, while man-made disasters added an additional $4 billion. Six events each caused insured losses of more than $1 billion. The costliest…

Ethical investing emerges from ruins

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 Research shows that sustainable funds grew at a faster pace than traditional vehicles last year, leading to the conclusion that investors may be searching for safer prospects after having their fingers singed. The sustainable investment market places money into ethically-acceptable areas such as environmentally friendly products and in companies that demonstrate social responsibility. Firms that…

Swiss economy to outperform European average

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 The federal government expects the Swiss economy to grow by 1.4 per cent, an improvement on the projected 0.7 per cent, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) announced on Tuesday. The findings are part of a quarterly forecast published by an expert group commissioned by the government. “Apart from strong GDP growth, exports continued…

Lindt sees profit fall more than a quarter

This content was published on Mar 16, 2010 The company said group sales fell 1.9 per cent to SFr2.525 billion in what it called “extremely difficult” market conditions for premium products. Organic growth, which measures income adjusted for currency fluctuations among other factors, stood at 2.3 per cent. Earnings before income and taxes fell 26.7 per cent to SFr264.8 million. The Kilchberg, Zurich-based…

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