by Swiss National Bank – © J0hnb0y | Dreamstime.com The Swiss National Bank (SNB), Switzerland’s central bank, has earned CHF 388 million from negative interest rates since introducing them in 2014 to tame the rising strength of the Swiss Franc, according to the newspaper SonntagsBlick. On 15 January 2015, the SNB announced that it was abandoning its policy of maintaining an exchange rate cap of 1.20 francs to 1.00 euro. At the same time it increased negative interest on sight deposits from -0.25% to -0.75%. On one hand negative interest rates are beneficial. They generate additional income for the SNB, some of which finds its way to cantonal governments, while reducing the cost of servicing government debt. In addition, they help exporters by putting downward
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Swiss National Bank – © J0hnb0y | Dreamstime.com
The Swiss National Bank (SNB), Switzerland’s central bank, has earned CHF 388 million from negative interest rates since introducing them in 2014 to tame the rising strength of the Swiss Franc, according to the newspaper SonntagsBlick.
On 15 January 2015, the SNB announced that it was abandoning its policy of maintaining an exchange rate cap of 1.20 francs to 1.00 euro. At the same time it increased negative interest on sight deposits from -0.25% to -0.75%.
On one hand negative interest rates are beneficial. They generate additional income for the SNB, some of which finds its way to cantonal governments, while reducing the cost of servicing government debt. In addition, they help exporters by putting downward pressure on the Swiss franc and help to nudge inflation up to more normal levels.
On the other hand they hurt savers. Despite few banks passing on negative rates to retail customers, some are describing them as a tax because of their negative effect on pension funds.
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