As traditional banks turn their backs on retail clients, a new wave of challenger banks are here to snap up disgruntled customers. N26 is the latest to launch in Switzerland. But who here really needs a Euro-only denominated account?Alpiq delisting faces resistance from activist investors
Activist investors are putting up a fight against Alpiq’s majority owners, holding onto the last remaining shares that would allow them to take the energy company private. Eugen Perger, senior analyst at Research Partners, warns that in the worst-case scenario, the impasse could lead to the issue having to be resolved in court.
ECB holds key to SNB decision
The Swiss National Bank is a “prisoner” of the European Central Bank, says Rudolf Minsch, chief economist of economiesuisse. If the ECB delivers a deep-enough rate cut on Thursday, he adds, the SNB will have to follow suit—but there is a little wiggle room.
FINMA establishes new rules for Libra in Switzerland
Libra asked for clarity and FINMA delivered. New guidelines are out for stablecoins as Facebook’s Libra currency tries to gain momentum in Switzerland.
Wanted: tenants for empty homes
The number of empty homes in Switzerland rose by 4.2 percent year-on-year to 75,323 in June, official figures show. While this represented a slightly slower pace than the previous year, Ursina Kubli, head of real estate analytics at ZKB, says don’t get too comfortable: the vacancy rate hasn’t reached its peak yet.
Why J.P. Morgan doesn’t expect another late-year sell-off
Investors remain pessimistic despite a “fantastic year” for markets, says David Stubbs, chief strategist at J.P. Morgan International Private Bank. That’s one reason he doesn’t expect a repeat of the late sell-off that wiped out 2018 gains.
Why Switzerland needs Africa
If Switzerland wants to play a major role in Africa, now’s the time, but Africans will want to see a commitment, says South African energy lawyer and author NJ Ayuk. “Africans want to get married,” he says. “They don’t just want to date.”
Debate over Belt and Road Initiative reaches new heights in Andermatt
Leaders from countries in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe met in Andermatt over the weekend to push through sustainable development guidelines for China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Margret Kiener Nellen, national councillor and head of the Swiss delegation, argued that Switzerland has the expertise to shape the discussions on challenges such as potential corruption.