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Swiss Re seeks Buffett aid as losses projected

This content was published on Feb 5, 2009 The world’s second-largest reinsurer said on Thursday that it would be taking “significant” measures to reinforce its capital strength to remedy its situation. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate holding company, which bought a three per cent stake in Swiss Re in 2008, will invest a further SFr3 billion subject to shareholder approval. The group is also…

Interest in electric vehicles gains speed

This content was published on Feb 4, 2009 Mindset, a Lucerne-based firm, hopes to release the first Swiss-designed hybrid car within about 18 months. Another company, Numexia, based in canton Vaud, in January unveiled a prototype for an electric delivery truck. Even demand for electric-power bicycles appears to be on the rise. A spokesman for Bern-based BikeTec says company sales have expanded so…

Swiss “too cautious” to try out Bulgaria

This content was published on Feb 3, 2009 And Bulgarians are also staying away from Switzerland – the take up of short-term and yearly Swiss work permits for 2008 was well under the quotas allocated by the Federal Migration Office. The debate surrounding the potential extension of the European Union labour accord to include Bulgaria and Romania may to some extent awaken Swiss…

Watches enjoy record 2008 but outlook is weak

This content was published on Feb 3, 2009 Exports totalled SFr17 billion ($15.13 billion), up from SFr16 billion posted in 2007, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry reported from its headquarters in Biel on Tuesday. After a fall of 15.4 per cent in value terms in November, the export situation improved in December, although still declining by 7.6 per cent compared with…

Exports hit a seven-year low

This content was published on Feb 3, 2009 At the same time the balance of trade surplus reached a new “historic” peak of SFr19.8 billion ($17 billion) – a 42 per cent gain on the previous year – the Federal Customs Office announced on Tuesday. Although full-year exports reached a record SFr206 billion, there was a “clear change” in the last three months…

White-collar crime flourishes as economy dips

This content was published on Feb 3, 2009 Experts believe the total value of fraud and other economic crimes could add up to five times that amount as the growing global economic crisis places workers under greater pressure. Audit specialists KPMG compiled their “fraud barometer 2008” by looking at publicised cases of corporate crime that ended up in the courts of Switzerland, Britain,…

Free movement poll

This content was published on Feb 3, 2009

Organ donors reach “alarmingly low” levels

This content was published on Feb 2, 2009 Sixty-two people died in 2008 because a suitable organ could not be found – 12 more than in 2007 – and 1,544 patients were sitting on waiting lists, up from 1,381 in 2007. “There’s been a slight increase for the first time in the number of donors but it’s still only Greece which is behind…

Can WEF help save the world from ruin?

This content was published on Jan 31, 2009 Billing this year’s Davos forum as the most significant to date, organisers urged participants to ditch their lax approach to previous meetings and work together to find a solution to the global economic crisis. The mood was certainly more business-like and sombre as frowns and poker faces replaced the 2008 vintage of back-slapping and broad…

WEF poll

This content was published on Jan 30, 2009

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Swiss Re seeks Buffett aid as losses projected

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Interest in electric vehicles gains speed

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Swiss “too cautious” to try out Bulgaria

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Watches enjoy record 2008 but outlook is weak

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Exports hit a seven-year low

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White-collar crime flourishes as economy dips

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Free movement poll

More

Organ donors reach “alarmingly low” levels

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Can WEF help save the world from ruin?

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WEF poll

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