SNB & CHF

Asylum seekers clean a park in Biasca, canton Ticino, in 2017 Over one-third of all asylum seekers and refugees in Switzerland are currently employed, according to State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) figures. But most of the jobs are precarious and the vast majority continue to receive state benefits. In one year, the employment rate for asylum seekers in Switzerland rose from 27% in March 2018 to 32% today, according...

I joined Tom Keene and Francine Lacqua to talk about US GDP with David Riley from BlueBay Asset Management. Here is a link to a 2.5-minute clip. The initial estimate of Q1 US growth was well more than nearly anyone expected. The details were underwhelming as the consumption was halved and the GDP deflator was halved. Final private domestic sales, which strips away inventories, trade, and government spending rose 1.3%,...

We have a postscript to our ongoing discussion of inflation. A reader pointed out that Levis 501 jeans are $39.19 on Amazon (in Keith’s size—Amazon advertises prices as low as $16.31, which we assume is for either a very small size that uses less fabric, or an odd size that isn’t selling). Think of the enormity of this. The jeans were $50 in 1983. After 36 years of relentless inflation (or hot air about inflation), the...

No super-wealthy individual or household is going to pay billions in additional taxes when $10 to $20 million will purchase political adjustments. The 2020 election cycle has begun, and a popular campaign promise is “free everything” paid for by new taxes on the super-wealthy. Who doesn’t like free stuff? Who will vote for whomever offers them free stuff? No wonder it’s a popular campaign promise. As even the most...

Subscribe to our podcast here: https://www.financialsense.com/subscribe Financial Sense Newshour speaks to Marc Chandler about the Fed's role in the business cycle. He says the last three economic downturns were not caused by the Fed but by financial instability. Listen to the full show to also hear from Jonathan Krinsky on the multitude of crosscurrents and mixed signals currently in the market. For the full interview, go to:...

Subscribe to our podcast here: https://www.financialsense.com/subscribe Financial Sense Newshour speaks to Marc Chandler about the Fed's role in the business cycle. He says the last three economic downturns were not caused by the Fed but by financial instability. Listen to the full show to also hear from Jonathan Krinsky on the multitude of crosscurrents and mixed signals currently in the market. For the full interview, go to:...

Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.15% at 1.1386 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, April 29(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: It promises to be an eventful week with the FOMC and BOE meeting, US jobs report and EMU April CPI and Q1 GDP on tap.  However, the week is marked by the May Day holiday in the middle of the week. Japan’s markets are closed all week, while...

Are unstaffed shops the future of shopping? (SRF/swissinfo.ch) At Zurich main railway station a trial is being carried out with an unstaffed shop that can only be accessed using a mobile app and a QR code. Is this the future of shopping? (SRF/swissinfo.ch) --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit...

Displacing 9.000 metric tons of rock to create 1.500 square meters of artspace --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit swissinfo.ch or subscribe to our YouTube channel: Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos Subscribe:...

Are unstaffed shops the future of shopping? (SRF/swissinfo.ch) At Zurich main railway station a trial is being carried out with an unstaffed shop that can only be accessed using a mobile app and a QR code. Is this the future of shopping? (SRF/swissinfo.ch) --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. For more articles, interviews and videos visit...