SNB & CHF

© Martinmark | Dreamstime.com Based on data from the first wave of Covid-19, epidemic modellers in Zurich estimate Switzerland would have suffered 22,000 deaths without the restrictions on daily life introduced in March 2020. The modelling, done by Fadoua Balabdaoui and Dirk Mohr at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ), estimates nearly 75% of Switzerland’s population would be infected by now. One of the difficulties decision makers face when...

NGOs argue that developing nation debt is borne by the world’s poorest populations. (Keystone / Nic Bothma) A group of 11 NGOs has called on Swiss banks and government ministries to consider offering relief on billions in debt owed by developing nations. The consortium says that the coronavirus pandemic has increased economic pressure on the poorest countries. The NGOs in question are Alliance Sud, Swissaid, Fastenopfer, Bread for All, Helvetas, Terre des Hommes...

The conventional wisdom is that central banks are the most important economic actors in the world. Markets hang on their every word. Yet, what if that power has less to do with actual monetary policy and more to do with how the performance of that policy creates a self-fulfilling prophecy as market actors respond to media coverage? Jeff Snider is the head of global research at Alhambra Investments. In this conversation, he and NLW explore: How the Fed lost the ability to even...

Risk sentiment is taking a breather today after a strong run; the dollar is getting some modest traction Fed tweaked its municipal bond program; weekly jobless claims are expected to rise 1.843 mln; Brazil and Mexico are seeing record high daily death counts ECB is expected to ease today; Germany agreed on a new fiscal package that exceeded expectations BOE warned that UK banks should plan for a possible hard Brexit; Swiss deflation is deepening Australia reported...

◆ WORLD SILVER SURVEY 2020 from the SILVER INSTITUTE GLOBAL SILVER DEMAND EDGED HIGHER IN 2019, WITH INVESTMENT DEMAND UP 12%, WHILE SILVER MINE SUPPLY FELL FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR Global silver demand was pushed higher in 2019, with a 12 percent increase in investment demand as retail and institutional investors focused their attention on the long-term investment appeal of the white metal. Favorable structural changes, such as vehicle electrification and a...

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Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.02% to 1.0798 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, June 4(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: After several days of aggressive risk-taking, investors are pausing ahead of the ECB meeting. Equities were mostly higher in the Asia Pacific region, though China was mixed, and Indian shares slipped. Europe’s Dow Jones Stoxx 600 is snapping a five-day advance, and US shares are trading...

04.06.2020 – The consumer price index (CPI) remained stable in May 2020 compared with the previous month, remaining at 101.3 points (December 2015 = 100). Inflation was –1.3% compared with the same month of the previous year. These are the results of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO).The stability of the index compared with the previous month is the result of opposing trends that counterbalanced each other overall. Prices for housing rental, international package...

Switzerland’s GDP fell by –2.6 % in the 1st quarter of 2020, after rising by +0.3% in the previous quarter.  Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the measures to contain it, economic activity in March was severely restricted. The international economic slump also slowed down exports. Switzerland Gross Domestic Product (GDP) QoQ, Q1 2020(see more posts on Switzerland Gross Domestic Product, ) Source: investing.com - Click to enlarge Switzerland Gross Domestic...

The Synhelion prototype installed last year on the roof of ETH Zurich (RSI-SWI) The Covid-19 pandemic has overshadowed the climate crisis, but with the gradual return of consumption and travel, concerns about global warming are resurfacing. A Swiss start-up is developing an aviation fuel produced solely with water, solar energy and CO2. Will this emission-neutral fuel put an end to “flight shame”? Synhelionexternal link is a company founded by researchers at the...