Tag Archives: Featured

22.11.2018 – Secondary sector production rose by 1.1% in 3rd quarter 2018 in comparison with the same quarter a year earlier. Turnover rose by 3.1%. These are provisional findings from the Federal Statistical Office (FSO). In comparison with the previous year industrial production grew in July by 3.3%, in August by 1.7%, then fell in September (-0.4%). For the whole of the 3rd quarter 2018 production increased by 1.4%...

I was part of the “Trading Block” on CNBC earlier today. The sharp fall in stocks and oil would have led many, like Joe, to anticipate dollar weakness. Instead, the dollar rallied. Perhaps, I suggested, the dollar was acting like a safe haven. Bill yields are high enough to make cash a reasonable alternative to park one’s savings. Even though the US economy is slowing from the fiscal goose of more than 4% in Q2 and more...

Engineering, natural sciences professions and IT professions are experiencing an acute talent shortage in Switzerland. (Keystone) Switzerland’s talent shortage is more pronounced in 2018, a new survey has found. Technical, financial, and medical professions are most affected, while job seekers in the hospitality, retail, and administrative sectors face the greatest competition. These are the results of the 2018 Skills...

The Swiss Franc is known as a safe haven currency which means investors buy the franc in times of uncertainty. Over the last couple of weeks the Franc has been gaining ground against most major currencies as events around the globe unfold. Brexit key driver for Pound to Swiss Franc rate Brexit continues to put pressure on sterling and we are still waiting to find out if a vote of no confidence is called. The Prime...

Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.26% at 1.134 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, November 21(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Yesterday’s frenzy has burnt itself out for the moment. Equities began recovering in Asia after early losses. China, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand closed higher and European markets are recouping some of yesterday’s...

Lodging and energy bills amounted to an average of 14.7% of household revenue. Swiss households spend an average of 29% on mandatory payments like taxes, social contributions and health insurance. Figures released by the Swiss Statistical Office on Monday reveal that, based on 2016 data, a Swiss household had an average income of CHF7,124 ($7,140), of which CHF2,910 was eaten up by unavoidable expenses. Of these...

For all we know, the panic selling is Wall Street’s way of forcing the Fed’s hand: stop with the rates increases already or Mr. Market expires. Markets everywhere are gagging on something: they’re sagging, crashing, imploding, blowing up, dropping and generally exhibiting signs of distress. Does the market need a Heimlich Maneuver? Is there some way to expel whatever’s choking the market? So what’s choking the market?...

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...

Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.50% at 1.132 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, November 20(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Yesterday’s 3% drop in the NASDAQ is setting the tone for today. The US stock market advance had been led by a narrow group of equities, and those have come under strong pressure amid slower consumer demand and stricter export control....

A distillation of the macro backdrop and important price considerations for selected currencies. US Dollar The market always has taken the Fed’s forecast for three rate hikes next year with a large dose of skepticism. The fed funds futures strip implies growing expectations that the Fed pauses after a hike in December and Q1 19. It is still unclear the direction of fiscal policy next year. It may be difficult for the...