SNB & CHF

The US dollar tended to broadly consolidate its recent gains over the past week.  Data and officials mostly confirmed what most investors had already anticipated.  The Federal Reserve is most likely to hike rates in the middle of December. The ECB will most likely ease policy further just shy of two weeks before the Fed meets.  The Bank of Japan is in no hurry to step up its already aggressive asset purchase program. The Chinese yuan will most likely be included in the next SDR basket...

Stem cells could in future be used for treating illnesses like cancer or arthritis. (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 swissinfo.ch or subscribe to our YouTube channel: Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos Subscribe:...

SWAP spreads recently took a nosedive and are once again trading at negative levels, even for shorter maturities. As can be seen from the chart below, treasury yields, here represented by the 10 year maturity, rose during QE policies programs contradicting the very raison d’être spouted by the central bankers. Interestingly enough we also see the same pattern in SWAP spreads. As QE programs were enacted SWAP spreads started to move upwards, just to rollover as the central bank program...

The National Portrait Gallery in London has an exhibition on Alberto Giacometti that reveals unknown aspects of this Swiss artist. (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 swissinfo.ch or subscribe to our YouTube channel: Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch Channel:...

(from my colleagues Dr. Win Thin and Ilan Solot) 1) Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, won the Argentine presidential election with 52% of vote  2) The latest political developments in Brazil rocked asset prices  3) The Brazilian central bank kept rates on hold at 14.25%, as expected, but two members called for a 50 bp hike  4) China markets are under pressure after reports that the three top brokers are under investigation as part of the larger anti-corruption campaign  5)...

 (from my colleagues Dr, Win Thin and Ilan Solot) 1) Mexico's FX commission tweaked its intervention program slightly  2) The political tide in Brazil has turned slightly better for the government  3) The PBOC announced a rate cut for its Standing Lending Facility (SLF) for local financial institutions  4) IMF staff has concluded that China meets the requirements to join the SDR basket  5) As promised, the Hungarian central bank started to focus on unconventional measures  6) Indonesia's...

The US dollar is rebounding today after yesterday's correction.   Those losses seemed to have been a function of some profit-taking after the seeming confirmation in the FOMC minutes that the Fed was set, barring a significant surprise, to raise rates next month.  The dollar bulls were already beginning to buy the dip before Draghi spoke.   Draghi escalated his rhetoric regarding future ECB action.  The market took Draghi's comments as a signal that the ECB will take aggressive action...

Vacant buildings get a new lease of life for the time being, and squatters are kept at bay. (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 swissinfo.ch or subscribe to our YouTube channel: Website: http://www.swissinfo.ch Channel: http://www.youtube.com/swissinfovideos Subscribe:...

How much of a headwind is international exposure causing US-based companies?  Factset did a study earlier this month, drawing on a combination of companies that had already reported Q3 earnings and used estimated results for those who had not reported.   It sheds light on the much-discussed earnings recession.  The blended earnings (as of November 5) of S&P 500 companies in Q3 15  declined by 2.2%.   For companies that earn over half of the their income in the US reported a 4.8% rise...

It shows how much money one needs to earn to be in the top 1% of the state's income earners.    There is great variance.  Connecticut has the highest threshold of $678k.  Arkansas has the lowest threshold at $228k.  That is a third of Connecticut.  The Economic Policy Institute finds that income equality grew in every state.  In 2012, which is the most recent data, income inequality was the greatest in New York and Connecticut. In both states the income of the top 1% was 48-times the...