On 21 June 2018, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced its decision on interest rates, which it left unchanged. Fritz Zurbrügg, Thomas Jordan and Andréa Maechler Switzerland’s economy has been sailing into the headwinds of a strong currency since the SNB scrapped its exchange rate cap in January 2015 and the Swiss franc briefly went beyond parity with the euro. To weaken the currency, the SNB introduced negative...
Read More »Andréa M. Maechler: Introductory remarks, news conference
I will begin my remarks with an overview of the situation on the financial markets, before giving an update on the status of the reforms regarding reference interest rates. And in closing I would like to say a few words about our branch office in Singapore, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Situation on the financial markets Let me start with the developments on the financial markets. The first half of 2018...
Read More »Introductory remarks by Fritz Zurbrügg
Fritz Zurbrugg - Click to enlarge In my remarks today, I will present the key findings from this year’s Financial Stability Report, published by the Swiss National Bank this morning. In the first part of my speech, I will talk about the big banks, before going on, in the second part, to outline our current assessment of the situation at domestically focused banks. Big banks In October 2018, it will be ten years since...
Read More »Thomas Jordan: Introductory remarks, news conference
- Click to enlarge Ladies and gentlemen It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to the Swiss National Bank’s news conference. I will begin by explaining our monetary policy decision and our assessment of the economic situation. I would also like to briefly touch on the rejection of the sovereign money initiative by the people and the cantons as well as a publication marking the tenth anniversary of the SNB’s...
Read More »Swiss National Bank commits to FX Global Code and supports establishment of foreign exchange committee
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has signed a Statement of Commitment to the FX Global Code (“Code”), thereby demonstrating that its internal processes are consistent with the principles of the Code. It also expects its regular counterparties to adhere to the Code and comply with the agreed rules of conduct. Published on 25 May 2017, the Code outlines principles of good practice developed by central banks and market...
Read More »Sovereign Money Referendum: A Swiss Awakening to Fractional-Reserve Banking?
On Sunday 10 June 2018, Switzerland’s electorate voted on a referendum calling for the country’s commercial banks to be banned from creating money. In a country world-famous for its banking industry, this was quite an interesting turn of events. Known as the Sovereign Money Initiative or ‘Vollgeld’, the referendum was brought to the Swiss electorate in the form of a ‘Popular Initiative‘. The Sovereign Money referendum...
Read More »Nach Vollgeld-Schlacht: Wir Schweizer dürfen nie mehr zum Spielball ausländischer Ideologen werden
Wer sich intensiv mit der fachlichen Materie „Vollgeld-Initiative“ auseinandergesetzt hat, kann aufatmen. Wäre diese Initiative angenommen worden, hätte deren Umsetzung unser Land in ein wirtschaftliches und politisches Chaos gestürzt. Es hätte nur zwei Möglichkeiten gegeben: entweder die Initiative einfach ignorieren und nicht umsetzen (wie das in unserem Land mehr und mehr in Mode kommt) oder sie nachträglich für...
Read More »SNB Statement on the outcome of the popular vote of 10 June 2018
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has acknowledged the outcome of the popular vote on the sovereign money initiative. The SNB has a constitutional and statutory mandate to pursue a monetary policy serving the interests of the country as a whole. It is charged with ensuring price stability while taking due account of economic developments. The adoption of the sovereign money initiative would have made it considerably more...
Read More »‘Much too early’ to lift interest rates, says SNB chairman
The strong franc is hurting Swiss exporters and the domestic tourism industry The continued volatility surrounding the Italian elections and the threat of global trade wars make it far too early for the Swiss National Bank (SNB) to consider raising rock bottom interest rates, says chairman Thomas Jordan. “It’s much too early at this moment,” Jordan told CNNMoney Switzerland. “The situation is still quite fragile...
Read More »Vollgeld – Eine umfassende Analyse
Am 10. Juni stimmen wir in der Schweiz auf nationaler Ebene über die Vollgeld-Initiative ab. Diese widmet sich einer der wohl komplexesten und zugleich wesentlichsten Thematiken unserer Gesellschaft: unserem Finanzsystem. Die Idee des Vollgeldes geht weit über die Initiative in der Schweiz hinaus und ist heute in erster Linie Bestandteil der «Modern Monetary Theory». Ihren Ursprung lässt sich in das 19. Jahrhundert...
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