SNB & CHF

One in five men in Switzerland is over 40 when he becomes a father, and this could be a risk factor for the baby. A study published in Nature magazine shows older fathers transmit a higher number of mutations to their children than older mothers. But they make up for it in their ability to nurture.(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...

For us the five major drivers of government bond yields are: Inflation expectations and inflation:  The by far most important criterion. High inflation expectations must be compensated via higher bond yields. The main driver behind inflation expectations is the wage development, this is the form of inflation that typically persists. Price inflation follows inflation expectations with a certain lag. Wealth: The higher the wealth of a country, the lower the bond yields. Wealth is typically...

For us the five major drivers of government bond yields are: Inflation expectations and inflation:  The by far most important criterion. High inflation expectations must be compensated via higher bond yields. The main driver behind inflation expectations is the wage development, this is the form of inflation that typically persists. Price inflation follows inflation expectations with a certain lag. Wealth: The higher the wealth of a country, the lower the bond yields. Wealth is typically...

We regularly publish the SNB asset structure by currency, rating & duration and the investment strategy. They shall be a template for the tactical asset allocation along these dimensions for other conservative asset managers – CHF holdings certainly excluded because the SNB nearly exclusively buys foreign assets. The SNB balance sheet looks as follows: In this post we will concentrate on the assets side, investment strategy and composition of “FX reserves”.See more on liabilities...

Plenty of people think there could be another financial calamity as early as fall of 2015. What is financial writer Charles Hugh Smith’s timeline? Smith predicts, “I see the motivation and the trend unfolding along those lines. They may be able to save it for another quarter, or maybe it will be the first quarter of 2016. We don’t know the exact timing, but they just keep winding the spring tighter and tighter. It is an attempt to control the exact circumstance they are all afraid of,...

Video Content Abstract at: LINK http://www.gordontlong.com/Macro_Analytics.htm#Smith-07-07-15

Many Swiss companies still have apprenticeship places up for grabs, including hundreds of spots for would-be bricklayers. Over 50 thousand trainee places have been assigned so far this year, but more are still available, especially in the building trade.(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...

It’s half a century since the first family planning clinic opened in Geneva, and young people in particular continue to reap the benefits of the service. It was William Geisendorf who founded the clinic in the Boulevard Saint George. He went on to set up the unit for gynaecology and sexology at Geneva University Hospital, the first of its kind in Europe. (RTS, swissinfo.ch) --- swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Its role is to report on...

Switzerland’s postal service has begun testing autonomous flying drones for parcel delivery. Real-world use could come within five to ten years. (SRF, swissinfo.ch) Swiss Post, in collaboration with Swiss WorldCargo (the air freight division of Swiss International Air Lines) and Matternet (a drone manufacturer from California), has started testing unmanned flying drones for logistical purposes. The aim of the tests is to develop and pinpoint the technical possibilities that the use of...

By inflation, I don’t refer to rising consumer prices in Athens. My Greek friends tell me that prices have been steady there in recent years. The focus on prices is the greatest sleight of hand ever perpetrated. It diverts your attention away from the real action. Inflation is the counterfeiting of credit. It is borrowing, when you can’t pay and you know it. Inflation is taking money under false pretenses, and issuing fraudulent bonds. This describes the Greek finances perfectly. Greece...