Business

Economy expands despite strength of franc against euro ©Keystone

Swiss economic growth outpaces expectations

by Malcolm Curtis

September 2, 2010 | 11:03

Figures released by the federal government show Switzerland’s economy continuing its recovery from last year’s recession in the second quarter of 2010, with year-on-year expansion of 3.4 percent. The better than expected results are fueled by strong investment activity and an economist tells Swisster that overall GDP growth for the year could well hit three percent, despite concerns about the record-high franc.

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Society
	Expat-Expo boss weighs up further expansion
	August 31, 2010 \| 09:47	by Marcus Berry

As he prepares to open Expat-Expo in Zurich on Sunday, director Ed McGaugh contemplates further expansion of a natinal exhibition series primarily aimed at aiding small to medium English-speaking businesses....Full story

Society
	WEF extends HQ to meet expansion requirements
	August 30, 2010 \| 11:41	by Michèle Laird

In order to meet the needs of its rapid expansion, the World Economic Forum inaugurates an extension that doubles the size of its premises in Geneva. The WEF, which organizes the annual Davos world summit,...Full story

Business
	UK regulator slaps record fine on Zurich Insurance
	August 25, 2010 \| 12:55	by Giles Broom

The UK’s financial regulator fines one of the world’s leading insurers a record 3.6 million francs for losing the confidential data of 46,000 customers. Zurich Insurance plc says the information was...Full story

Society
	Two injured by acid mailed to Geneva bankers
	August 25, 2010 \| 11:37	by Malcolm Curtis

Cantonal police remain tight-lipped about a case in which two people are injured after packages containing corrosive acid are mailed to private bankers in Geneva. Spokesman Jean-Philippe Brandt confirms...Full story

Business
	United Coffee eyes targetted expansion from Geneva
	August 24, 2010 \| 08:12	by Malcolm Curtis

The biggest seller of certified coffee in Europe is moving its headquarters to Geneva, where it plans to direct targetted expansion particularly in the UK, Spain and France. Per Harkjaer, the CEO of United...Full story

Business
	Swiss franc expected to hit historic new highs
	August 20, 2010 \| 11:03	by Malcolm Curtis

Switzerland’s “safe haven” currency strengthens after Swiss customs reports the biggest trade surplus in the country’s history for July and the latest investor sentiment index takes a leap upward....Full story

FINMA chairman’s departure draws attacks - and praise
The head of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, Eugen Haltiner, announces he is stepping down in December, a year before his mandate ends. Haltiner is praised by the federal government for...

Full storyAugust 19, 2010 | 10:53by Malcolm Curtis

Cargill launches metals trade operation in Geneva
Cargill, one of the world’s best-known trading companies, opens a new metals desk in Geneva. Despite posting a decline in annual revenues in its last financial year, which led to cost-cutting across...

Full storyAugust 19, 2010 | 07:37by Giles Broom

International tax crackdown aids Swiss Life profits
One of Switzerland’s leading life assurance providers reports an 90 percent profit increase in half-year results, boosted by international efforts to prevent banks protecting tax-avoiding clients. Swiss...

Full storyAugust 18, 2010 | 12:33by Giles Broom

Government projects propel construction industry
The delayed impact of government projects meant to counteract last year’s recession - mostly transportation improvement schemes - are boosting construction activity, according to a report by Credit Suisse....

Full storyAugust 18, 2010 | 11:01by Malcolm Curtis

Labour campaign against UI changes targets Dougan
Organized labour in Switzerland picks on Credit Suisse CEO Brady Dougan and his high salary to illustrate the alleged “inequity” of the country's unemployment insurance system. As part of a campaign...

Full storyAugust 17, 2010 | 11:26by Malcolm Curtis

Credit Suisse seeks slice of hedge fund success
One of Switzerland’s top two banks, Credit Suisse, announces a new hedge fund advisory service headed by Lesley D. Goldwasser, to take advantage of recent success in the hedge fund industry. The firm’s...

Full storyAugust 17, 2010 | 11:03by Giles Broom

Leuthard’s China trade mission pays dividends
China says it is ready to launch free trade talks with Switzerland early next year as Swiss President Doris Leuthard wraps up a five-day trade mission to the fast-growing nation on the weekend. Chinese...

Full storyAugust 16, 2010 | 11:03by Malcolm Curtis

Credit Suisse cuts UK jobs while growing India presence
Credit Suisse receives a licence from the Indian authorities to open its first bank branch in Mumbai while slashing jobs in the UK, suggesting that strategic priorities lie in fast-growing Asia, rather...

Full storyAugust 13, 2010 | 12:06by Giles Broom

Concerns rise over Colonel Spicer’s 'private army'
The national debate grows regarding the creation of a new Swiss company by global security firm Aegis, run by one of the most famous figures in the private military sector, Colonel Tim Spicer. The UK firm,...

Full storyAugust 12, 2010 | 12:36by Giles Broom

Profitable Nestlé confident about the rest of 2010
Nestlé, Switzerland’s largest public company, reports a better than expected net profit of 5.5 billion francs in the first half of 2010, up 7.5 percent from the same period a year earlier, and issues...

Full storyAugust 11, 2010 | 11:09by Giles Broom

Swiss financial fraud case draws Madoff parallels
Four people are on trial for alleged financial fraud in a Swiss court case that is drawing parallels to that of Bernard Madoff, the former stock broker jailed for bilking thousands of investors of billions...

Full storyAugust 10, 2010 | 11:17by Malcolm Curtis and Marta Falconi

‘We are hiring,’ firms tell KOF economic institute
As official unemployment figures in Switzerland continue to improve, a majority of companies tell the Zurich-based KOF economic institute they plan to increase personnel in the next three months. The economy...

Full storyAugust 9, 2010 | 10:53by Giles Broom

President Leuthard leads Swiss trade mission to China
Switzerland’s President Doris Leuthard is heading to China with a delegation of business leaders from 30 companies and industry groups in a bid to drum up more trade opportunities for Swiss firms. A...

Full storyAugust 5, 2010 | 15:40by Malcolm Curtis