SNB & CHF

Silver bullion prices are expected to jump as solar and smartphone demand rises and the Fed tries to stave off economic weakness by Myra Saefong via Barrons Gold prices have far outpaced gains in silver so far this year, but silver will emerge as the winner for the second year in a row. With a per-ounce price of $17.41 for silver futures as of Friday, analysts say the white metal is poised for a big climb, particularly...

Summary Euro looks like it is carving out a top. The importance also lies in identifying levels that the bearish view may be wrong. Widening rate differentials, a likely later peak in divergence than previously anticipated, and one-sided market positioning lend support to the bearish view.   This Great Graphic depicts the top the euro is carving. We suggest that several fundamental developments lie behind the...

Chinese producer prices accelerated in September 2017, while consumer price increases slowed. The National Bureau of Statistics reported this weekend that China’s PPI was up 6.9% year-over-year, a quicker pace than the 6.3% estimated for August and a 5.5% rate in July. Earlier in the year producer prices were driven mostly by 2016’s oil rebound, along with those in the rest of the global economy, but in recent months...

Think you'd know a clitoris if you saw one? How about if it was 2 metres tall and in the middle of a roundabout...? Nouvo brings you short videos about Switzerland, Swiss current affairs and the wider world. Keep up to date and watch the videos wherever you are, whenever you like. --- 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,...

We do not like Purchasing Power or Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) as measurement for currencies. For us, the trade balance decides if a currency is overvalued. Only the trade balance can express productivity gains, while the REER assumes constant productivity in comparison to trade partners. Who has read Michael Pettis, knows that a rising trade surplus may also be caused by a higher savings rate while the trade...

Discover all of the new Swiss notes on mobile devices - Click to enlarge The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is releasing an updated version of ‘Swiss Banknotes’, an app for mobile devices designed to help the public familiarise themselves with the new banknotes.The popular app, which has been downloaded over 70,000 times, now also showcases the new 10-franc note. It can be downloaded free of  charge from the Apple...

– Brexit UK vulnerable as gold bar exports distort UK trade figures – Britain’s gold exports worth more than any other physical export – Gold accounted for more than one in ten pounds of UK exports in July 2017– UK’s stock of wealth has collapsed from a surplus of £469bn to a net deficit of £22bn – ONS error– Brexiteers argue majority of trade is outside EU, this is due to large London gold exports– Single gold bar...

– Brexit UK vulnerable as gold bar exports distort UK trade figures – Britain’s gold exports worth more than any other physical export – Gold accounted for more than one in ten pounds of UK exports in July 2017– UK’s stock of wealth has collapsed from a surplus of £469bn to a net deficit of £22bn – ONS error– Brexiteers argue majority of trade is outside EU, this is due to large London gold exports– Single gold bar...

Chinese imports rose 18.7% in September 2017 year-over-year. That’s up from 13.5% growth in August. While near-20% expansion sounds good if not exhilarating, it isn’t materially different from 13.5% or 8% for that matter. In addition, Chinese trade statistics tend to vary month to month. What is becoming very clear is that China’s economy is behaving no differently than the global economy. Most of that increase for...

The theme this week is The Rot Within. It’s been 10 years since I devoted a week to the theme of The Rot Within (September 17, 2007). Back in 2007, I listed 16 systemic sources of rot in our society, politics and economy; none have been fixed. Instead, the gaping holes have been filled with Play-Do and hastily painted to create the illusion of shiny solidity. We live in a simulacrum society in which the fading scent of...