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Profits sparkle at mineral water company but sales decline

This content was published on Jun 19, 2000 In its annual report, the company says that the 1999 business year can be described a “satisfactory”. However, it singles out the “excellent” performance of its Virgin ice tea which was launched in January 1999. The company explains the falling turnover by “disappointing” weather conditions and the end of its contract with the Lipton brand.…

BIS reports heightened market volatility

This content was published on Jun 19, 2000 Regarded as the central bank of central banks, the BIS says that equity markets were the most volatile, particularly those trading technology stocks. However, in its quarterly review, it adds that the volatility also extended to the fixed income markets and major currencies. The BIS says one source of volatility seemed to be the uncertainty…

Geneva says it with flowers

This content was published on Jun 19, 2000 This year’s Geneva International Competition for New Roses was won by Robert Laperrière, from France. His winning variety was a velvet red hybrid tea which will be named after Geneva’s cantonal education minister, Martine Brunschwig-Graf. The competition, which began in 1947, is staged in the magnificent setting of the Parc la Grange, which overlooks Lake…

EFTA expected to ease trade barriers with eastern neighbours

This content was published on Jun 19, 2000 The main beneficiary of today’s meeting will be Macedonia. Ministers from the four EFTA countries – Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland – are expected to tear down all remaining trade barriers with the impoverished state. They are also scheduled to sign cooperation agreements with Ukraine and Croatia. But a bigger prize – a free trade…

This business week ahead

This content was published on Jun 18, 2000 The World Trade Organisation’s working party on China kicks off a closed door session today to prepare the final details for Beijing’s entry into the organisation. China’s accession is imminent, after the United States gave its reluctant blessing, and the European Union ironed out its remaining problems with Beijing. On Wednesday, the International Labour Organisation…

Couchepin moots incentives to integrate disabled into workplace

This content was published on Jun 17, 2000 Couchepin told the annual conference of Pro Infirmis, in Neuchâtel, that companies should be free to decide their own recruitment policies. Pro Infirmis is an umbrella group representing disabled people. Couchepin said the goodwill of employers should be encouraged through incentives designed to offset the additional costs of hiring handicapped workers. The minister’s comments were…

Villiger says planned bank can safeguard future of Post Office

This content was published on Jun 17, 2000 Villiger said he understood the concerns of banks faced with the prospect of a new competitor, but that the government had been forced to respond to the massive structural reforms in the postal sector. He conceded that the changes were less visible than in the telecommunications sector, but said they were nonetheless present. The finance…

Business review

This content was published on Jun 17, 2000 – Tuesday, Switzerland’s Sanar Polymer bought US automotive part supplier, Blue Water Pastics, paying SFr215 million. – Tuesday, the Swiss government said it wants to be able to sell its majority stake in telecom group, Swisscom. It also wants to create a Postbank as a means for the postal service to finance mail and deliveries.…

Overseas experts recommend more autonomy for Swiss statistics office

This content was published on Jun 16, 2000 The study was carried out by two Canadian experts: the head of Canada’s Statistics Office, Ivan Fellegi, and a former colleague, Jacob Ryten. They were asked to conduct a thorough peer review of the Statistics Office’s operations, amid concerns that it was “in danger of becoming blinkered”, in the words of its director, Carlo Malaguerra.…

Swiss hoteliers sleep easy

This content was published on Jun 16, 2000 In total, there were 14.5 million overnight stays in Swiss hotels over the winter. Bookings from abroad were particularly strong, rising 6.7 per cent. There was a marked increase in the number of German and British tourists. The statistics office said early snow at the beginning of the season in November, as good snow and…

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Profits sparkle at mineral water company but sales decline

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BIS reports heightened market volatility

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Geneva says it with flowers

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EFTA expected to ease trade barriers with eastern neighbours

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This business week ahead

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Couchepin moots incentives to integrate disabled into workplace

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Villiger says planned bank can safeguard future of Post Office

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Business review

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Overseas experts recommend more autonomy for Swiss statistics office

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Swiss hoteliers sleep easy

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