SNB & CHF

German growth may remain subdued in H1 2019, before picking up somewhat in H2 2019 as some near-term risks dissipate. Germany’s leading indicator, the Ifo index, rose in March, driven by an increase in both sub-components: current assessment and expectations. The Ifo index differs in make-up from Markit’s purchasing manager indexes, but at the sector level, the story is the same: the more domestically driven services...

On March 25, 1999, Chinese President Jiang Zemin was confronted by pro-Tibetan protesters upon his arrival at the seat of parliament in Bern. Furious, he refused to participate in a guard of honour or to greet government members waiting to receive him. In his speech, he sharply criticised the Swiss authorities, accusing them of not being capable of maintaining order and told them they had lost a good friend. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss...

On March 25, 1999, Chinese President Jiang Zemin was confronted by pro-Tibetan protesters upon his arrival at the seat of parliament in Bern. Furious, he refused to participate in a guard of honour or to greet government members waiting to receive him. In his speech, he sharply criticised the Swiss authorities, accusing them of not being capable of maintaining order and told them they had lost a good friend. (SRF/swissinfo.ch) --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss...

Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.06% at 1.1231 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, March 26(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The sell-off in equities seemed to peak yesterday, and US indices were narrowly mixed. Traders found comfort in that performance, even though the S&P 500 finished a little below 2800, and took the markets in the Asia-Pacific region...

© Panuwat Dangsungnoen | Dreamstime.com Since 1 January 2019, companies abroad making more than CHF 100,000 in revenue must charge Swiss VAT on sales made to anyone in Switzerland. Now the Swiss government has decided to take aim at online platforms such as Aliexpress and Wish, according to the broadcaster RTS. Rather than chasing foreign companies selling products in Switzerland, Beat Vonlanthen, an MP from Fribourg,...

The US-China trade talks look like they may very well continue through most of the second quarter, despite how much progress is being claimed. Meanwhile, the tariffs remain in effect, but the market’s sensitivity to developments has slackened since it was clear the Trump and Xi were not going to meet at the end of this month. Europe’s relationship with China will eclipse the US-China trade talks that resume with Mnuchin...

Last week, I ranted about the problem with our monetary system and trajectory: falling interest rates is Keynes’ evil genius plan to destroy civilization. This week, I continue the theme—if in a more measured tone—addressing the ideas predominant among the groups who are most likely to fight against Keynes’ destructionism. They are: the capitalists, the gold bugs, and the otherwise-free-marketers. I do not write this to...

Falling for a con is painful. The first reaction is to deny being conned, of course. The second is to blame skeptics for being correct in their skepticism. Here’s the fundamental “story” of the Mueller Investigation: elites don’t like “the little people” democratizing public narratives. The elites–who reckon their right to rule is self-evident–want to set the narrative and the context, because that’s the foundation of...

Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.12% at 1.1231 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, March 25(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Global equities have soured after the US shares dropped the most since very early in the year before the weekend. Asia’s sell-off was led by the 3% decline in Nikkei, while Malaysia fared among the best, surrendering 1%.  Europe’s Dow...

Key developments in 2018 The current account surplus for 2018 was CHF 71 billion, CHF 26 billion more than in the previous year. Changes in primary income (labour and investment income) had the greatest impact: Whereas one year earlier an expenses surplus of CHF 9 billion was recorded, owing to exceptionally large expenses for direct investment receipts in 2017, in the year under review there was a receipts surplus...