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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about Swiss franc (CHF)
Booksellers slash prices to match euro's dive
Monday, 29 August, 2011
The strong franc has cast a spotlight on the profit margins distributors are pocketing on imported goods sold in Switzerland. And it’s all the more true for the book industry—especially in the French-speaking part of the country where book prices have traditionally been higher than in France. Swiss booksellers say the euro’s fall shows just how artificially inflated the price of books has become. WRS’s Lucas Chambers went to visit one shop-owner who’s trying to draw attention to the issue by slashing his own prices 40 percent:
Monday, 29 August, 2011
The strong franc has cast a spotlight on the profit margins distributors are pocketing on imported goods sold in Switzerland. And it’s all the more true for the book industry—especially in the French-speaking part of the country where book prices have traditionally been higher than in France. Swiss booksellers say the euro’s fall shows just how artificially inflated the price of books has become. WRS’s Lucas Chambers went to visit one shop-owner who’s trying to draw attention to the issue by slashing his own prices 40 percent:
Consumer groups still want more supermarket bang for their franc
Friday, 26 August, 2011
This week shoppers were able to take advantage of lower prices thanks to the strong franc. Prices on some international brands were down by up to 20 percent at Migros and Coop. But consumer groups say the price reductions don’t go far enough. They say Swiss consumers still aren’t getting the most bang for their franc. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports:
Friday, 26 August, 2011
This week shoppers were able to take advantage of lower prices thanks to the strong franc. Prices on some international brands were down by up to 20 percent at Migros and Coop. But consumer groups say the price reductions don’t go far enough. They say Swiss consumers still aren’t getting the most bang for their franc. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports:
Prospects dim for strong franc relief package
Wednesday, 24 August, 2011
The Federal Council is expected to discuss the details of an economic aid package worth two billion francs for businesses hurt by the strong franc. Last week the announcement was greeted as a welcome relief but the subsidy is now under stiff criticism. WRS’s Jordan Davis has more:
Wednesday, 24 August, 2011
The Federal Council is expected to discuss the details of an economic aid package worth two billion francs for businesses hurt by the strong franc. Last week the announcement was greeted as a welcome relief but the subsidy is now under stiff criticism. WRS’s Jordan Davis has more:
Rewind: Laissez-faire Bern wants intervention over strong franc
Friday, 19 August, 2011
The normally hands-off federal government surprised many in Bern on Wednesday in calling for two billion francs in subsidies for companies hurt by the strong franc. The details of the plan still have to be worked out, but the government hopes parliament will approve a package in September. Jordan Davis reviews that and the rest of the week’s political news with journalists Pascal Jeannerat, from Radio Suisse Romande, and Pascal Krauthammer, from DRS Radio:
Friday, 19 August, 2011
The normally hands-off federal government surprised many in Bern on Wednesday in calling for two billion francs in subsidies for companies hurt by the strong franc. The details of the plan still have to be worked out, but the government hopes parliament will approve a package in September. Jordan Davis reviews that and the rest of the week’s political news with journalists Pascal Jeannerat, from Radio Suisse Romande, and Pascal Krauthammer, from DRS Radio:
View from the South: Ticino firms hit by strong franc cancel 13th month paychecks
Friday, 19 August, 2011
Certain Ticino companies have decided against paying an extra bonus month’s salary in December this year because of economic difficulties linked to the strong Swiss franc. The so-called “13th month” paycheck is an entrenched tradition in Switzerland, although it is not guaranteed. Ticino correspondent Nicole della Pietra talks with WRS’s Alex Helmick about this and other issues from Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region:
Friday, 19 August, 2011
Certain Ticino companies have decided against paying an extra bonus month’s salary in December this year because of economic difficulties linked to the strong Swiss franc. The so-called “13th month” paycheck is an entrenched tradition in Switzerland, although it is not guaranteed. Ticino correspondent Nicole della Pietra talks with WRS’s Alex Helmick about this and other issues from Switzerland’s Italian-speaking region:
Dateline CH: High franc puts holes in profits for Emmental cheese
Friday, 19 August, 2011
Reporter Imogen Foulkes casts her eye on the strong franc — and how it is denting profit margins for Swiss products, such as Emmental, the cheese famous for its holes:
Friday, 19 August, 2011
Reporter Imogen Foulkes casts her eye on the strong franc — and how it is denting profit margins for Swiss products, such as Emmental, the cheese famous for its holes:
Pegging the franc to euro last resort measure, UBS analyst says
Friday, 19 August, 2011
The Swiss National Bank this week announced further measures to combat the strong Swiss franc. After almost touching parity with the euro, the common currency has been hovering at about 1.13 francs. With the SNB saying more intervention could be in sight, including a possible temporary peg of the franc to the euro, analysts are watching still volatile currency markets for hints of what’s to come. A UBS analyst says pegging the franc to the euro would be a last resort, to be used if nothing else works. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Friday, 19 August, 2011
The Swiss National Bank this week announced further measures to combat the strong Swiss franc. After almost touching parity with the euro, the common currency has been hovering at about 1.13 francs. With the SNB saying more intervention could be in sight, including a possible temporary peg of the franc to the euro, analysts are watching still volatile currency markets for hints of what’s to come. A UBS analyst says pegging the franc to the euro would be a last resort, to be used if nothing else works. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Sky-high franc threatens to flatten duty-free oasis in Graubünden
Monday, 15 August, 2011
The duty-free oasis of Samnaun in the canton of Graubünden is suffering from the effects of the strong franc. Many customers are from the eurozone countries of Germany and Austria. But the exchange rate of recent weeks has drastically reduced the benefits of buying duty-free goods. Shop owners say sales have slumped by 30 percent over the past two years and they are resorting to an artificial exchange rate to keep a sluggish summer from collapsing completely. WRS’s Vincent Landon has more:
Monday, 15 August, 2011
The duty-free oasis of Samnaun in the canton of Graubünden is suffering from the effects of the strong franc. Many customers are from the eurozone countries of Germany and Austria. But the exchange rate of recent weeks has drastically reduced the benefits of buying duty-free goods. Shop owners say sales have slumped by 30 percent over the past two years and they are resorting to an artificial exchange rate to keep a sluggish summer from collapsing completely. WRS’s Vincent Landon has more:
History shows strong franc yields winners and losers
Wednesday, 10 August, 2011
The issue of the strong franc is nothing new in Switzerland. A joint study by several Swiss educational institutions shows that the continuing strength of the currency between 1975 and 1995 affected the country in many different ways. There were definite winners and losers, identified city by city, and region by region in the report. The research also suggests that decisions were made to keep the franc strong to help certain sectors. Will history repeat itself this time around? One of the authors of that original study is Professor Olivier Crevoisier from Neuchâtel University. He tells WRS’s Lucia Walton that two cities came out on top during that 20-year stretch:
Wednesday, 10 August, 2011
The issue of the strong franc is nothing new in Switzerland. A joint study by several Swiss educational institutions shows that the continuing strength of the currency between 1975 and 1995 affected the country in many different ways. There were definite winners and losers, identified city by city, and region by region in the report. The research also suggests that decisions were made to keep the franc strong to help certain sectors. Will history repeat itself this time around? One of the authors of that original study is Professor Olivier Crevoisier from Neuchâtel University. He tells WRS’s Lucia Walton that two cities came out on top during that 20-year stretch:
U.S. government debt downgrade further boosts franc
Monday, 8 August, 2011
Standard and Poor’s has downgraded the United States’ credit rating from triple-A status to ’AA+’. Switzerland is a major economic partner with the U.S. and vice versa. So what impact will this have on Switzerland, the already soaring Swiss franc and the average person living in the country? To find out, WRS’s Alex Helmick calls up Arturo Bris, professor and program director of advanced strategic management at the IMD business school in Lausanne. Bris says that this development will further strengthen the Swiss franc, making Switzerland more of a safe haven than ever:
Monday, 8 August, 2011
Standard and Poor’s has downgraded the United States’ credit rating from triple-A status to ’AA+’. Switzerland is a major economic partner with the U.S. and vice versa. So what impact will this have on Switzerland, the already soaring Swiss franc and the average person living in the country? To find out, WRS’s Alex Helmick calls up Arturo Bris, professor and program director of advanced strategic management at the IMD business school in Lausanne. Bris says that this development will further strengthen the Swiss franc, making Switzerland more of a safe haven than ever:
Rewind: Bern knows high franc causes pain but lacks solutions
Friday, 24 June, 2011
Another week brings another record high for the Swiss franc. The euro traded below 1.19 francs for the first time ever. The federal government says it feels the pain of the tourism and export sectors adversely impacted by the strong currency, but political solutions are short in coming. Is it time for Switzerland to get used to a high-priced franc? WRS’s Jordan Davis reviews that issue, along with the rest of the week’s political news with Pascal Jeannerat, from French-language public radio Radio Suisse Romande, and independent Federal Palace journalist Niklaus Ramseyer:
Friday, 24 June, 2011
Another week brings another record high for the Swiss franc. The euro traded below 1.19 francs for the first time ever. The federal government says it feels the pain of the tourism and export sectors adversely impacted by the strong currency, but political solutions are short in coming. Is it time for Switzerland to get used to a high-priced franc? WRS’s Jordan Davis reviews that issue, along with the rest of the week’s political news with Pascal Jeannerat, from French-language public radio Radio Suisse Romande, and independent Federal Palace journalist Niklaus Ramseyer:
High franc boosts cross-border shopping
Wednesday, 22 June, 2011
The euro’s steep drop in value against the Swiss franc is refueling cross-border shopping in neighboring European countries, such as France and Italy. The euro rebounded only slightly this week after falling to as low as 1.19 francs last Friday. The impact is clear for shoppers making comparisons on the price of groceries. Many residents of Switzerland are becoming familiar with the nearest shopping mall across the border. They’re loading up shopping carts for far less money than in Swiss stores. WRS’s Lucas Chambers meets some of the bargain hunters in Val Thoiry, France, just outside Geneva:
Wednesday, 22 June, 2011
The euro’s steep drop in value against the Swiss franc is refueling cross-border shopping in neighboring European countries, such as France and Italy. The euro rebounded only slightly this week after falling to as low as 1.19 francs last Friday. The impact is clear for shoppers making comparisons on the price of groceries. Many residents of Switzerland are becoming familiar with the nearest shopping mall across the border. They’re loading up shopping carts for far less money than in Swiss stores. WRS’s Lucas Chambers meets some of the bargain hunters in Val Thoiry, France, just outside Geneva:
