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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about Swiss franc (CHF)
IMF weighs in on 1.20 franc-euro exchange rate
Friday, 23 March, 2012
This week the International Monetary Fund rolled out its annual analysis of Switzerland, and it had plenty to say. The report covered the housing market, banking policy and of course the 1.20 franc minimum exchange rate against the euro set by the Swiss National Bank last year. WRS’s Tony Ganzer spoke with Enrica Detragiache, the IMF’s mission chief for Switzerland, who praised the currency market move by the Swiss, but she tempered that praise with a caution:
Friday, 23 March, 2012
This week the International Monetary Fund rolled out its annual analysis of Switzerland, and it had plenty to say. The report covered the housing market, banking policy and of course the 1.20 franc minimum exchange rate against the euro set by the Swiss National Bank last year. WRS’s Tony Ganzer spoke with Enrica Detragiache, the IMF’s mission chief for Switzerland, who praised the currency market move by the Swiss, but she tempered that praise with a caution:
SNB to stay the 1.20 course at any cost
Tuesday, 7 February, 2012
Swiss National Bank interim head Thomas Jordan spoke at a luncheon of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce in Geneva this afternoon, and he painted a fairly pessimistic view of the world economy with a forecast for a slowdown in Switzerland as well. It was the first major policy speech we’d heard from the bank since the resignation of Philipp Hildebrand last month, and he made it clear that SNB policy has not changed—including its intention to guard the 1.20 franc-to-euro floor at any cost. WRS’s Alex Helmick speaks with our reporter Jordan Davis who was there:
Tuesday, 7 February, 2012
Swiss National Bank interim head Thomas Jordan spoke at a luncheon of the Swiss American Chamber of Commerce in Geneva this afternoon, and he painted a fairly pessimistic view of the world economy with a forecast for a slowdown in Switzerland as well. It was the first major policy speech we’d heard from the bank since the resignation of Philipp Hildebrand last month, and he made it clear that SNB policy has not changed—including its intention to guard the 1.20 franc-to-euro floor at any cost. WRS’s Alex Helmick speaks with our reporter Jordan Davis who was there:
'A shame that Mr. Hildebrand resigned'
Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
Swiss National Bank head Philipp Hildebrand resigned on Tuesday after controversial currency trades by his wife. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Peter Kunz, professor of business law at the University of Bern, who says he thinks it’s a shame Hildebrand resigned:
Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
Swiss National Bank head Philipp Hildebrand resigned on Tuesday after controversial currency trades by his wife. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Peter Kunz, professor of business law at the University of Bern, who says he thinks it’s a shame Hildebrand resigned:
Defending franc at 1.20 after SNB head departs
Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
After weeks of pressure Philipp Hildebrand has finally quit as head of the Swiss National Bank. At a press conference on Tuesday, he said he couldn’t prove that he’d been unaware of a controversial currency trade made by his wife and that he wanted to protect the integrity of the central bank. The Swiss franc did rise fractionally on the news of Hildebrand’s departure but analysts believe that’s just a knee-jerk reaction and there will be no change in National Bank policy over defending the franc. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Marc Bürki, CEO of online bank Swissquote in Geneva:
Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
After weeks of pressure Philipp Hildebrand has finally quit as head of the Swiss National Bank. At a press conference on Tuesday, he said he couldn’t prove that he’d been unaware of a controversial currency trade made by his wife and that he wanted to protect the integrity of the central bank. The Swiss franc did rise fractionally on the news of Hildebrand’s departure but analysts believe that’s just a knee-jerk reaction and there will be no change in National Bank policy over defending the franc. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Marc Bürki, CEO of online bank Swissquote in Geneva:
Expert questions Hildebrand's suitability for top job at SNB
Friday, 6 January, 2012
The president of the Swiss National Bank, Philipp Hildebrand, says he’s done nothing wrong and won’t be resigning following allegations of insider dealing. Speaking to the media yesterday for the first time since the scandal broke, Hildebrand said he’d acted in line with SNB rules when engaging in private currency deals. At the heart of the affair lies a $500,000 currency trade by Hildebrand’s wife—three weeks before the SNB set a minimum exchange rate for the franc against the euro. WRS’s Adam Beaumont spoke to Stewart Hamilton, emeritus professor of accounting at the IMD business school in Lausanne:
Friday, 6 January, 2012
The president of the Swiss National Bank, Philipp Hildebrand, says he’s done nothing wrong and won’t be resigning following allegations of insider dealing. Speaking to the media yesterday for the first time since the scandal broke, Hildebrand said he’d acted in line with SNB rules when engaging in private currency deals. At the heart of the affair lies a $500,000 currency trade by Hildebrand’s wife—three weeks before the SNB set a minimum exchange rate for the franc against the euro. WRS’s Adam Beaumont spoke to Stewart Hamilton, emeritus professor of accounting at the IMD business school in Lausanne:
SNB head still in the hot seat over alleged insider trading
Thursday, 5 January, 2012
The chairman of the Swiss National Bank faces more intense scrutiny later today. Philipp Hildebrand has been accused of buying up dollars to personally benefit from the SNB pegging the Swiss franc to the euro last summer. Cleared by two external investigations last year, he said his wife made the transactions. Hildebrand is expected to react to the latest accusations in a meeting with the press this evening. Yesterday, the Weltwoche magazine announced it had documents to prove it was Hildebrand and not his wife who made the transactions. WRS’s Lucas Chambers asked the magazine’s deputy editor in chief, Philipp Gut, more about these documents. And WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Rudolf Burger, editor at Der Bund newspaper:
Thursday, 5 January, 2012
The chairman of the Swiss National Bank faces more intense scrutiny later today. Philipp Hildebrand has been accused of buying up dollars to personally benefit from the SNB pegging the Swiss franc to the euro last summer. Cleared by two external investigations last year, he said his wife made the transactions. Hildebrand is expected to react to the latest accusations in a meeting with the press this evening. Yesterday, the Weltwoche magazine announced it had documents to prove it was Hildebrand and not his wife who made the transactions. WRS’s Lucas Chambers asked the magazine’s deputy editor in chief, Philipp Gut, more about these documents. And WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Rudolf Burger, editor at Der Bund newspaper:
Spinning mill worries about unraveling textile business
Thursday, 5 January, 2012
The Swiss textile industry is the latest employment sector to decry the Swiss franc as over-valued. Last November the Eschler textile firm threatened to shut down its Swiss production sites in Thurgau and Appenzell because of foreign competition and a debilitating Swiss franc. WRS’s Tony Ganzer visited one Swiss textile company to see whether industry nerves are as tightly wound as its products:
Thursday, 5 January, 2012
The Swiss textile industry is the latest employment sector to decry the Swiss franc as over-valued. Last November the Eschler textile firm threatened to shut down its Swiss production sites in Thurgau and Appenzell because of foreign competition and a debilitating Swiss franc. WRS’s Tony Ganzer visited one Swiss textile company to see whether industry nerves are as tightly wound as its products:
Is Blocher behind insider trading allegations aimed at Hildebrand?
Tuesday, 3 January, 2012
Controversial Swiss People’s Party politician Christoph Blocher is at the centre of a scandal. Over the weekend, two newspapers accused him of being behind a tip-off alleging head of the Swiss National Bank Philipp Hildebrand had been involved in insider trading. The government has confirmed the accusation was made, but has refused to confirm or deny whether Blocher was the informant. According to the allegation, Hildebrand used his position to profit from the SNB’s decision to fix the exchange rate of the Swiss franc at 1.20 against the euro last September. A double investigation has already cleared Hildebrand. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Beat Kappeler, an economist and journalist with the Neue Zurcher Zeitung:
Tuesday, 3 January, 2012
Controversial Swiss People’s Party politician Christoph Blocher is at the centre of a scandal. Over the weekend, two newspapers accused him of being behind a tip-off alleging head of the Swiss National Bank Philipp Hildebrand had been involved in insider trading. The government has confirmed the accusation was made, but has refused to confirm or deny whether Blocher was the informant. According to the allegation, Hildebrand used his position to profit from the SNB’s decision to fix the exchange rate of the Swiss franc at 1.20 against the euro last September. A double investigation has already cleared Hildebrand. WRS’s Pete Forster talks to Beat Kappeler, an economist and journalist with the Neue Zurcher Zeitung:
'Our possibilities are quite limited' to dampen strong franc
Thursday, 22 December, 2011
Members of Parliament in the National Council spent a good part of the afternoon yesterday talking about the strong franc. Few motions were approved and most MPs were in fact resigned to the fact that the economic effects of the currency situation were out of their hands. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports:
Thursday, 22 December, 2011
Members of Parliament in the National Council spent a good part of the afternoon yesterday talking about the strong franc. Few motions were approved and most MPs were in fact resigned to the fact that the economic effects of the currency situation were out of their hands. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports:
How Swiss franc mortgages are hurting Hungarians
Thursday, 10 November, 2011
This week, the European Central Bank issued a stark warning. It said a plan by Hungary to allow its citizens to repay mortgages taken out in Swiss francs at a preferential exchange rate could substantially weaken the stability of the banking system in the region. One million Hungarians have Swiss franc mortgages. As the Swiss franc has gained in value—homeowners have seen their repayments skyrocket. WRS’s Vincent Landon has just returned from Budapest and has this report:
Thursday, 10 November, 2011
This week, the European Central Bank issued a stark warning. It said a plan by Hungary to allow its citizens to repay mortgages taken out in Swiss francs at a preferential exchange rate could substantially weaken the stability of the banking system in the region. One million Hungarians have Swiss franc mortgages. As the Swiss franc has gained in value—homeowners have seen their repayments skyrocket. WRS’s Vincent Landon has just returned from Budapest and has this report:
Employers say job cuts may continue
Tuesday, 8 November, 2011
Business owners made their plea yesterday for a freer hand in light of the uncertain economic times. Their recipe isn’t one that unions will want to hear: The Swiss Employers Association says longer working hours, smaller salaries or, in some cases, even salaries in euros will be needed. This comes after a barrage of layoff announcements by companies from across the economy from Novartis to Kudelski to Credit Suisse. Valentin Vogt is president of the Swiss Employers Association. He told WRS’s Jordan Davis that the heart of the problem is an overvalued franc:
Tuesday, 8 November, 2011
Business owners made their plea yesterday for a freer hand in light of the uncertain economic times. Their recipe isn’t one that unions will want to hear: The Swiss Employers Association says longer working hours, smaller salaries or, in some cases, even salaries in euros will be needed. This comes after a barrage of layoff announcements by companies from across the economy from Novartis to Kudelski to Credit Suisse. Valentin Vogt is president of the Swiss Employers Association. He told WRS’s Jordan Davis that the heart of the problem is an overvalued franc:
Worries fester over Swiss economy amid job cuts
Wednesday, 2 November, 2011
In recent days, the media has reported a spate of job cuts in some of Switzerland’s best known companies—from banking giant Credit Suisse to tech firm Kudelski and pharmaceutical heavyweight Novartis. So what do these cuts mean for Switzerland’s economy? Are the cutbacks the start of a trend towards recession? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Rafael Lalive, professor of economics at the University of Lausanne’s Faculty of Business and Economics and José Corpataux, an economist and Secretary General of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions:
Wednesday, 2 November, 2011
In recent days, the media has reported a spate of job cuts in some of Switzerland’s best known companies—from banking giant Credit Suisse to tech firm Kudelski and pharmaceutical heavyweight Novartis. So what do these cuts mean for Switzerland’s economy? Are the cutbacks the start of a trend towards recession? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Rafael Lalive, professor of economics at the University of Lausanne’s Faculty of Business and Economics and José Corpataux, an economist and Secretary General of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions:
How Swiss tourism lures skiers spooked by steep franc
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers will be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit. It’s the strong Swiss franc. At Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference, WRS’s reporter Vincent Landon got the lowdown:
Tuesday, 1 November, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers will be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit. It’s the strong Swiss franc. At Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference, WRS’s reporter Vincent Landon got the lowdown:
Gloomy winter forecast for Swiss tourism
Monday, 31 October, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers are expected to be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit: It’s the strong Swiss franc. WRS reporter Vincent Landon was at Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference earlier today:
Monday, 31 October, 2011
The Swiss tourism industry is bracing itself for the coming winter. According to the latest forecasts, there will be a 2.6 percent decline in overnight stays. While the Swiss will remain largely loyal, foreign visitor numbers are expected to be down 4.2 percent. You don’t need to look far to find the culprit: It’s the strong Swiss franc. WRS reporter Vincent Landon was at Switzerland Tourism’s winter press conference earlier today:
