Switzerland
Switzerland won't escape slowdown: Jordan
Thomas Jordan, a member of the Swiss National Bank's governing board, believes the global economic decline is likely to reach Switzerland, albeit with a lag.
SNB's Roth heralds new phase of crisis
Jean-Pierre Roth, the chairman of the Swiss National Bank, has said that signs of a downturn in the real economy mark the beginning of a new phase of the global turmoil.
SNB's Hildebrand backs tough stance on banks
The integrated bank model can be successful even with new and significantly tougher capital and liquidity requirements, said Philip Hildebrand, vice chairman of the Swiss National Bank, in an interview to the Tages-Anzeiger, a Swiss daily.
Swiss monetary framework a model of distinction
The Swiss National Bank's unique monetary policy model has allowed the real economy to escape the worst of the financial turmoil, says the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Swiss regulator heeds calls for tougher rules
The Swiss Federal Banking Commission, the industry regulatory, has written to the country's two biggest banks to outline plans to enforce more stringent capital requirements.
Interbank tensions remain: SNB's Jordan
Money markets are still exhibiting signs of stress despite clear signs of a return to calm, Thomas Jordan, a member of the Swiss National Bank's governing board, noted.
SNB wants big banks to hold more capital
The Swiss National Bank has urged the country's regulator to impose more stringent capital requirements on UBS and Credit Suisse, the two biggest banks in Switzerland.
SNB opts to hold rates
The Swiss National Bank left its target range unchanged on Thursday, arguing that the global economic slowdown would dampen inflationary pressures in the medium term.
Swiss housing market stable, says SNB's Roth
The Swiss housing market is unlikely to perform as badly as its US counterpart in the coming months, Jean-Pierre Roth, the chairman of the Swiss National Bank's governing board, believes.
Central bank action could lead to inflation
Thomas Jordan, a member of the Swiss National Bank's governing board, has warned that central banks' response to the credit crunch could precipitate inflation.
Swiss inflation soars to 15-year high
Inflation in Switzerland shot up to 2.9% in the year to May, its highest level since 1993, data published on Tuesday revealed.
Swiss Re's Raaflaub to head new regulator
Patrick Raaflaub, the head of group capital management at Swiss Re, a reinsurance company, will direct Switzerland's new super regulator the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
SNB blames Q1 loss on FX markets
The appreciation of the Swiss franc has led the country's central bank to incur a Sfr3.97 billion ($3.76 billion) loss in the first quarter of 2008.
Jordan on the Swiss outlook
The outlook for Switzerland's economy remains good, stated Thomas Jordan, a member of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank.
Swiss join calls for bank pay reform
Jean-Pierre Roth, chairman of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank, has urged a complete rethink of commercial banks' corporate governance and pay schedules in the wake of the credit crisis and recent trading scandals.
Monetary tools limited - SNB's Jordan
There is no magic bullet with which central banks can restore lost confidence among market participants, said Thomas Jordan, a member of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank.
Turmoil set to impact Swiss exporters: SNB's Roth
The financial market turbulence is unlikely to leave Switzerland unscathed, said Jean-Pierre Roth, the chairman of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank.
Swiss rate band remains fixed around 2.75%
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) will keep its target range for three-month interbank borrowing costs between 2.25% and 3.25% for the coming quarter.
Central banks announce second joint effort
The Federal Reserve will accept banks' mortgage-backed securities as part of a raft of liquidity measures announced by five of the world's most powerful monetary authorities on Tuesday 11 March.
Sovereign wealth fund round-up
The creation of a much-mooted code of conduct for sovereign wealth funds edged closer this week after the European Commission submitted its ideas to the region's finance ministers for review in mid-March.
Cyprus and Malta join gold agreement
Cyprus and Malta, the two newest members of the eurozone, have signed up to the Central Bank Gold Agreement, which limits the amount of gold cooperating institutions can sell.
SNB's Jordan on uncertainty
Monetary policy decision-makers must be aware of uncertainty and the limitations of their knowledge, said Thomas Jordan, a member of the governing board of the Swiss National Bank.
SWFs investment in banks: an alarming trend?
In the wake of the credit crunch banks' capital cushions have deflated dangerously. And, in response, some have turned to one group of investors untouched by subprime credit or by mark-to-market reporting requirements: sovereign wealth funds (SWFs)…
Swiss exchange rate has no impact on rate-setting
The Swiss franc exchange rate is only relevant in monetary policy insofar as it has an impact on Swiss inflation, says Jean-Pierre Roth, the chairman of the Swiss National Bank.