SNB & CHF

(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: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=swissinfovideos

Switzerland gives its citizens the chance to play a direct part in political decision-making. Although direct democracy is not unique to Switzerland, it is probably more highly developed here than in any other country. Swiss citizens can either propose legislation of their own, or work to defeat legislation already approved by parliament. Any citizen has the right to propose new legislation by launching a people’s initiative. Typically these initiatives are proposed by interest groups. Once...

Zurich has the biggest databank in the world documenting “Broken heart syndrome” (BHS). BHS is a recently recognised heart problem, often brought on by extreme emotional or physical stress, such as the death of a loved one. Doctors  at University Hospital Zurich estimate that about 5% of people with BHS die in hospital. The hospital keeps files on 1,700 people who have experienced the condition. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)  --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting...

The surging dollar may give Swiss companies trading in the US and Asia some breathing room, after a bad start to the year for many firms hit by the strong franc. When the Swiss National Bank announced on 15 January that it would no longer hold the Swiss franc at a fixed exchange rate with the euro, the franc soared and Swiss stocks fell. Business has argued that the euro-franc exchange rate will hurt Swiss firms exporting to Europe. But for some Swiss companies, like watch manufacturer...

When in 2013 Swatch announced the introduction of a new, cheap, and revolutionary automatic watch, it was hailed as a milestone in watchmaking. The Sistem51 has proved so popular that a second production facility is being built in Boncourt, Jura, to supply the Asian market, above all. So what’s so special about it? Firstly, the entire manufacturing process is automated, and all production takes place in Switzerland. Many other watch companies use Chinese components. The Sistem51 uses just...

How will the Solar Impulse 2 pilots eat, sleep or go to the toilet? Before the take-off, Bertrand Piccard gave a tour of the cockpit. The plane propelled solely by the sun took off from Abu Dhabi on Monday on a 35,000km voyage. Piccard and fellow pilot André Borschberg are taking turns to steer the plane around the world. From its first landing place, Muscat, it will make 12 stops over five months, with a total flight time of around 25 days.(SRF/swissinfo.ch) --- swissinfo.ch is the...

Charles Hugh Smith has written about the we are living in An Empire of Lies. We discuss what that means and why it must eventually end. The surprising thing is how long it has lasted. This is why it's so important to go back to the local investing and keep the money in your community where it will do the most good. Because when it all collapses, you'll be living in your local town, not in the global economy. Which is why you investing always needs to begin at home.

Feb 20 – Cris Sheridan welcomes Marc Chandler, author and Global Head of Currency Strategy at Brown Brothers Harriman. Marc discusses the reasons behind the negative interest rate trend in many European countries. http://www.financialsense.com/subscribe