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Profits crumble at cement maker Holcim

This content was published on Aug 19, 2010 The world’s second-largest cement maker said in a report published on Thursday that a slow recovery in European construction had eaten into second-quarter profits, which slumped 12 per cent to SFr399 million. Net sales for the first six months of 2010 had topped SFr10.9 billion, up 8.1 per cent. The figures beat analysts’ expectations of…

Swiss try to limit cow methane emissions

This content was published on Aug 18, 2010 Swiss scientists have turned their attention to the problem, and are investigating the possibility of modifying the animals’ diet to stop them producing so much gas. The release of methane into the atmosphere is a major problem. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), farm animals are responsible for 18 per cent of…

Controversial Finma head stands down

This content was published on Aug 18, 2010 The former UBS manager got caught up in a political storm earlier this year when the federal administrative court said Finma had abused its power when it ordered details of 255 UBS account holders suspected of tax evasion in the United States to be sent to Washington. The following day Haltiner said Finma had made…

Swiss Life profit doubles

This content was published on Aug 18, 2010 Zurich-based Swiss Life announced on Wednesday that group premium income increased 20 per cent to SFr12.2 billion, as economic recovery persuaded customers to invest again in life insurance policies in Germany and France. Operating profit for the first six months of the year was SFr415 million, up from SFr251 million for the same period in…

Nestlé factory in Congo sparks mixed reactions

This content was published on Aug 18, 2010 The Swiss-based food giant announced two months ago that it would spend $40 million (SFr41.9 million) over the next three years on a factory in the capital Kinshasa. It will produce culinary and coffee brands including Nescafé 3-in-1 and Maggi stock cubes. But the granting of generous tax benefits to the group’s Congo subsidiary has…

“Super” speed camera to watch over Swiss roads

This content was published on Aug 17, 2010 The Swiss-built device, due to be put into service at the end of August in Geneva, can simultaneously monitor the speed of 22 cars in four lanes, not just the normal two. It can also spot nine other driving misdemeanours. Drivers who tailgate or trespass into bus or cycle lanes, who fail to give way…

New car sales accelerate

This content was published on Aug 17, 2010 Figures from the Swiss Automobile Imports’ Association show that since the beginning of the year, a total of 16,256 more cars have been sold than in the previous period last year when sales plummeted as a result of the financial crisis. The association noted that 174,033 cars were sold since January, not quite reaching the…

Oerlikon says it is on the way to recovery

This content was published on Aug 17, 2010 It managed to almost halve its loss in the first half to SFr50 million ($47.5 million) from SFr99 million a year ago, according to figures released by the group on Tuesday. Oerlikon, which is active in the solar, vacuum and coating technologies as well as the textile industry, said it hoped to reach operational break…

Travellers told not to import plants

This content was published on Aug 16, 2010 Some plants bring with them the danger of disease and pests or are invasive, squeezing out local greenery. Others are simply forbidden because they are endangered species. It’s a problem which is well known to Markus Bünter, head of the Plant Protection Inspectorate of the Agroscope research institute, which is attached to the Federal Agriculture…

Alcon vote takes Novartis closer to buyout

This content was published on Aug 16, 2010 Major shareholders of Alcon on Monday backed five directors put forward by the Basel-based pharmaceutical giant, giving Novartis a majority on Alcon’s board of directors. The nominations will come into effect once Novartis has completed its acquisition of a 52 per cent controlling stake held by food giant Nestlé. The remaining transaction has been approved…

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Internal: Archive

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Profits crumble at cement maker Holcim

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Swiss try to limit cow methane emissions

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Controversial Finma head stands down

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Swiss Life profit doubles

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Nestlé factory in Congo sparks mixed reactions

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“Super” speed camera to watch over Swiss roads

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New car sales accelerate

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Oerlikon says it is on the way to recovery

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Travellers told not to import plants

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Alcon vote takes Novartis closer to buyout

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