SNB & CHF

Towards the end of 2017, Bitcoin — and with it other cryptocurrencies — experienced a real hype. Within a few months, prices shot through the ceiling. The euphoria was ginormous and in hindsight pure madness. With the new year, the disillusionment arrived. The market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies fell by more than half and prices plunged. This somewhat harsh consolidation was expected to bring the crypto world...

The KOF Economic Barometer rose again in June for the first time in three months. It increased by 1.7 points to 101.7 points, stopping its downward tendency in spring. The current Barometer value is now slightly above the long-term average of 100.0. Thus, the KOF Economic Barometer indicates a slightly above-average economic development in Switzerland. The tailwind for the Swiss economy is no longer as strong as during...

Neuchâtel, 28 June 2018 (FSO) – For the second consecutive year, the tourism balance of payments was negative in 2017. This means that expenditure by Swiss residents during visits abroad exceeded the expenditure of non-residents during their stay in Switzerland. In an economic climate still marked by a strong franc, the tourism balance of payments was CHF -122 million, according to initial estimates from the Federal...

On 25 June 2018, the city of Zug, the town at the heart of Switzerland’s crypto valley, started testing a voting system based on blockchain technology. ©-Denis-Linine-_-Dreamstime.com_ - Click to enlarge During the trial, which runs until 1 July 2018, around 200 voters will cast non-binding municipal votes on mock questions in a trial designed to identify any bugs in a system built by the company Luxsoft and the...

juin 27, 2018 par LHK Bitcoin : les causes de la chute historique sous la barre des 6 000$. 2 articles de Adrien Pittore/ Entreprise news Bitcoin Horrific CrashesLes soldes ne commencent que mercredi. Et pourtant, la valeur du Bitcoin, plus généralement des cryptomonnaies, a accusé un sacré coup de rabais jeudi 21 juin. Alors qu’il était plutôt bien stabilisé, le cours du Bitcoin s’attaquait à la barre symbolique...

Summary of the 2017 banking year Of the 253 banks in Switzerland, 229 recorded a profit in 2017, posting a total profit of CHF 10.3 billion. The remaining 24 institutions recorded an aggregate loss of CHF 0.5 billion. The result of the period for all banks was CHF 9.8 billion. The aggregate balance sheet total rose by 4.8% to CHF 3,249.4 billion. On the assets side, domestic mortgage loans continued to advance, by...

Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.24% to 1.1545 CHF. EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, June 28(see more posts on EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates The US dollar is consolidating its gains against most of the major currencies, but the underlying strength remains evident. Several major and emerging market currencies are at new lows for the year, including sterling and the New Zealand...

London house prices down 1.9 per cent in Q2 (yoy) London house prices still 50% above 2007 bubble peak (see chart) Brexit and weak consumer confidence to blame say experts Little sign that U.K. property “weakness” is likely to change London property bubble appears to be bursting Editors Note: The London property bubble appears to be in the early stages of bursting. House prices are falling with reports of falls of as...

In May 2014, Switzerland voted against a minimum wage of CHF 22 an hour. At some point voters in the canton of Geneva will get to vote on a similar initiative, which would apply only in the canton. Similar to the federal vote, which was rejected by 76.3% of Swiss voters, the plan calls for a minimum hourly wage of CHF 23 ($US 23.40). Based on a 40-hour week, this works out at around CHF 4,000 per month. Vote organisers...

Employment expands in the Protected cartel-dominated sectors, and declines in every sector exposed to globalization, domestic competition and cheap capital. If you want to understand why the global economy is failing the many while enriching the few, start with the basics: capital, labor and resources. What happens when central banks drop interest rates to near-zero? Capital becomes dirt-cheap. It becomes ludicrously...