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Technology opens up new prospects for the blind

This content was published on Aug 20, 2008 The exhibition of new technology for the blind and visually impaired is being held this week at the General Assembly of the World Blind Union, opened on Monday by Swiss President Pascal Couchepin. Around 500 national association delegates from 121 countries are attending the conference, which takes place every four years and runs until Saturday.…

Raw materials costs corrode chemical industry

This content was published on Aug 19, 2008 But while global competitors have experienced the same difficulties, the Basel-based duo have also been stung by the strong Swiss franc and strategic problems, according to analysts. Both companies operate in a competitive market producing chemicals, such as dyes and pigments, for the car, plastics, paper, construction and textile industries. Ciba shares plummeted on Tuesday…

Embryos harvested to create stem cell crop

This content was published on Aug 19, 2008 Changes in Swiss legislation in 2004 gave the Geneva University team a window of opportunity until 2008 to study embryos that had been donated for research before 2001. The team has developed its first successful line of stock of HES cells from which further research can now be carried out. In contrast to most stem…

Central bank says credit conditions are steady

This content was published on Aug 19, 2008 Jean-Pierre Roth told the Financial Times newspaper that Swiss cantonal banks and regional banks were “doing fine” despite the current financial market crisis. Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS, has had to write down more than $40 billion (SF43.9 billion) in risky credits in the United States over the past year. But Roth stressed that the Swiss…

Cement firm sells subsidiary to Venezuela

This content was published on Aug 19, 2008 Holcim, the world’s second largest cement company, said on Tuesday it would retain a 15 per cent minority stake after the $552 million (SFr607 million) deal. Holcim Venezuela reported net sales of around $200 million in 2007, accounting for one per cent of the group’s turnover. The socialist government also reached a deal to buy…

Study finds 50 cases of shaken-baby syndrome

This content was published on Aug 19, 2008 The figures, resulting from monitoring over the five-year period, show that three-quarters of those responsible are men. Parents or babysitters risk losing control when a baby simply will not stop crying and resort to shaking the baby to make him or her stop. This can lead to permanent neurological damage or even to death, since…

Soaring rents force families out of Zurich

This content was published on Aug 18, 2008 The situation is being blamed on an influx of skilled foreign workers, exploitative landlords and the wealthy buying up second homes. Observers say outlying districts are also now feeling the pinch. The cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities has never been cheap. But rental prices for first time tenants have…

UBS chairman wants “radical transformation”

This content was published on Aug 18, 2008 Peter Kurer also believes Switzerland’s largest bank will be profitable again next year. UBS is Europe’s hardest hit victim of the current credit crisis, having written down about $42 billion (SFr46 billion) of investments. Last week, the group announced a second-quarter loss of SFr358 million at the same time as separating its investment banking, asset…

Football fans spend little in Swiss shops

This content was published on Aug 18, 2008 The Federal Statistics Office said on Monday that turnover was up two per cent in June or only 0.7 per cent when adjusted for inflation, and was therefore considerably weaker than in previous months. Shops registered record growth in turnover in May with 9.3 per cent (7.4 per cent) compared with the same month in…

Chinese develop taste for Swiss chocolate

This content was published on Aug 15, 2008 Chocosuisse, the umbrella organisation of the Swiss chocolate industry, said exports to China rose from just two tons in 2001 to 308 tons last year. This represents an increase in value to SFr2.1 million ($1.9 million) from SFr57,000 seven years ago. The organisation said China imports primarily premium chocolate from Switzerland, as only a small…

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Technology opens up new prospects for the blind

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Raw materials costs corrode chemical industry

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Embryos harvested to create stem cell crop

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Central bank says credit conditions are steady

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Cement firm sells subsidiary to Venezuela

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Study finds 50 cases of shaken-baby syndrome

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Soaring rents force families out of Zurich

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UBS chairman wants “radical transformation”

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Football fans spend little in Swiss shops

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Chinese develop taste for Swiss chocolate

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