Internal: Archive

ABB clinches surprise asbestos deal

This content was published on Mar 21, 2005 The company said on Monday that it had reached a comprehensive agreement with all parties on a financial settlement that would account for all outstanding claims. ABB said that, under the new arrangement, it would pay an additional $232 million (SFr272 million) to a special trust fund for asbestos-related liabilities, over and above the $1.2…

Swiss ground staff get new labour agreement

This content was published on Mar 21, 2005 The airline and union representatives also agreed on the terms of a severance pay plan for future redundancies, although six out of ten ground staff were not represented at the talks. The new collective contract is subject to approval by employees, who will have to decide on the issue by the end of March. Swiss…

Putting alpine rivals to the Expo test

This content was published on Mar 21, 2005 swissinfo accompanied two Japanese visitors to the exhibition and asked them to put the Swiss and Austrian pavilions to the test. Austria and Switzerland – long-time rivals on the World Cup ski circuit – sit side-by-side in one corner of the Expo site reserved for European countries. First stop for Machiko Koide, a university lecturer,…

Swiss sale ready for take-off

This content was published on Mar 20, 2005 Newspapers on Sunday said the deal brought more advantages than disadvantages for the airline and Switzerland. And a majority of the Swiss public support the deal. According to the NZZ am Sonntag, sources close to major shareholders say Swiss could cut costs by SFr300 million ($258 million) a year through synergies with the German airline.…

Future of Swiss to be decided next week

This content was published on Mar 18, 2005 The announcement came as Swiss CEO Christoph Franz told unions he could provide no job guarantees for the airline’s 6,000 employees following a link-up with the German carrier. Public opposition to the planned merger appears to be growing in Switzerland following reports that Lufthansa would secure loss-making Swiss for a knockdown price. The government announcement…

Swiss workers much more productive in 2004

This content was published on Mar 18, 2005 A study by forecasting and analysis centre Basel Economics (BAK) says average labour productivity per hour increased by 2.1 per cent in 2004, nearly double the annual average of 1.1 per cent for the period 1973 to 2003. The news will be welcomed by many economists and politicians, who regularly point to Switzerland’s “productivity gap”…

Technopark looks to the future

This content was published on Mar 18, 2005 Lesley Spiegel told swissinfo that promoting start-ups and developing groundbreaking technologies was also essential for preventing a brain drain from Switzerland. Spiegel succeeded Thomas Waldkirch as head of the Technopark Zurich Foundation in October last year. The goal of the Technopark is to provide a platform for technology transfer from science to industry, giving entrepreneurs…

Swiss Re proves investors are rarely satisfied

This content was published on Mar 17, 2005 The dip in share price illustrates the gap between analysts, who tend to take a longer-term view of a company’s prospects, and investors, some of whom are just looking to make a quick profit. Swiss Re, the world’s second-largest provider of insurance cover to the insurance industry (after German rival Munich Re), increased its 2004…

A shot of Cassis to pep up a flagging economy

This content was published on Mar 17, 2005 The Cassis-de-Dijon Principle – named after a blackcurrant flavour liqueur – is a European Court ruling, stating that a product legally manufactured in one EU state may circulate freely in another. Switzerland has held back from joining the EU. But the price of Swiss independence is undoubtedly high, like the prices of goods in the…

Swiss Re profit rises by almost half

This content was published on Mar 17, 2005 The company beat market expectations, with net profit reaching SFr2.5 billion ($2.17 billion) last year, despite a drop in income from premiums. “Swiss Re expects to deliver further growth in earnings in 2005,” the company said in a statement, adding that it was “optimistic about future business opportunities.” Analysts polled by the Reuters news agency…

Internal: Archive

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ABB clinches surprise asbestos deal

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Swiss ground staff get new labour agreement

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Putting alpine rivals to the Expo test

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Swiss sale ready for take-off

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Future of Swiss to be decided next week

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Swiss workers much more productive in 2004

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Technopark looks to the future

More

Swiss Re proves investors are rarely satisfied

More

A shot of Cassis to pep up a flagging economy

More

Swiss Re profit rises by almost half

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