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The use of debit cards continues to increase but cash remains the most popular payment method in Switzerland. Many respondents say they have adapted their payment behaviour as a result of the pandemic and plan to make increased use of card payments in the future. © Keystone/Gaetan Bally A survey by the Swiss National Bank (SNB) found that 97% of respondents keep cash in their wallets or at home to cover day-to-day expenses, while 92% own a debit card and 78% hold a...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be inflationary overheating. Or not? As more time passes and the situation further evolves, the more these recent price deviations conform to the supply shock scenario rather than a truly robust economy showing no signs of slowing down.

Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.10% to 1.0944 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, June 22(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Firming long-term US yields have lent the dollar support after trading heavily yesterday. The greenback is around 0.15%-0.50% higher against the major currencies. The Japanese yen and Canadian dollar are among the more resilient, and the Australian dollar and sterling among the...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The price of gold (and silver) was on a tear in April and May. Then some sideways action. And then this week, thud. On Twitter, a popular meme is that the banks smashed the price by selling futures contracts, though there was no selling of gold bars. Let’s just say that if the price of an August contract fell by $120, while the price of a gold bar held steady, there would be a backwardation of around 40%!

[embedded content] Weekly Market Pulse on June 21, where we look at significant things from last week’s events with Joe Calhoun. [embedded content] You Might Also Like Weekly SNB Sight Deposits and Speculative Positions: Inflation is there, CHF must Rise 2021-06-21 Update June 21 2021: SNB intervening. Sight Deposits have risen by +1.1 bn CHF, this means that the SNB is intervening and...

The Swiss consumed almost 11% less energy last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and warmer weather, according to the Federal Office of Energy. Electricity pylons near Schaenis in canton St Gallen. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally In total, Swiss residents used up 747,400 terajoules (TJ) of energy in 2020 – a fall of 10.6% compared to 2019 – the office said in a statementExternal link on Monday. The two Covid-related lockdowns in spring and autumn, as well as warm weather,...

The proposed 15% minimum corporate tax rate is an opportunity for Switzerland to unite its tax code for the better, says an organization representing Swiss cities. Cities like Zurich rely on company tax revenues to provide services and infrastructure. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally City finance directors have criticized cantons for trying to plug expected tax gaps unilaterally, rather than find a common approach nationwide. The United States is currently leading efforts...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Pressure on equities seen last week carried over into Asia and Europe today. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell for the fourth consecutive session, led by more than a 3% decline in the Nikkei. Australia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong bourses fell by more than 1%. European equities opened lower, but have turned higher.

Switzerland is well prepared to take on the Delta variant, said Christoph Berger, head of Switzerland’s federal vaccination commission. Based on what we currently know, there is no need to be concerned, he said, reported RTS. © Rodrigo Fernández | Dreamstime.com While it’s true that the variant is more contagious, nearly 90% of those vaccinated with two doses of mRNA vaccine are protected against this variant, Berger told the NZZ am Sonntag on 20 June 2021....

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Switzerland’s economy will be back to its pre-pandemic level as early as this year and does not need a stimulus package, says Sabine D'Amelio-Favez, director of the Federal Finance Administration. The Confederation has incurred debts of CHF30 billion ($33 billion) to stem the economic consequences of Covid-19, she said in an interview published on Saturday by newspapers of the CH Media group.