Tag Archive: Swiss National Bank

SNB Results: Big Win After Big Loss in Q4 2018

The Swiss National Bank reports a profit of CHF 30.7 billion for the first quarter of 2019. The profit on foreign currency positions amounted to CHF 29.3 billion. A valuation gain of CHF 0.9 billion was recorded on gold holdings. The profit on Swiss franc positions was CHF 0.6 billion.

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Swiss Policy Mix Review

The Swiss federal budget is governed by a strict expenditure rule, which is enshrined in the Constitution. Since its introduction, the ratio of public debt-to-GDP has been significantly reduced, falling back to its early-90’s level. At the close of 2018, the Swiss federal budget registered a significant surplus of CHF 2.9 billion, compared with budget projections for a surplus of CHF 295 million.

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SNB loses 15 billion in 2018

The SNB earned 2 billion on negative interest rates (Swiss franc positions below), but lost nearly 17 billion CHF on FX investments, of which 5 bn on bonds and 12 bn on stocks. Gold was nearly unchanged.

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Folgt nun der umgekehrte Frankenschock?

An ihrer ersten Sitzung im neuen Jahr hat die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) ihren Kurs bestätigt. Das Wertschriftenkaufprogramm ist definitiv beendet. Fortan kauft sie netto keine zusätzlichen Anleihen mehr zu. Sondern sie ersetzt nur noch die bestehenden Papiere, die sie in ihrem Portefeuille hält.

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SNB Grants Fintechs Access to SIC

In a press release the Swiss National Bank explains that it: "grants access to … [fintechs] that make a significant contribution to the fulfilment of the SNB’s statutory tasks, and whose admission does not pose any major risks.

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Provisional Results 2018: Will the SNB ever make profits again?

15 Billion Francs Losses in 2018. Given that the good years have finished: Will the SNB will ever make profits again? And compensate for the ever rising Swiss franc?

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Swiss National Bank Suffers $15 Billion Loss On 2018 Market Rout

In the third quarter of 2018, the hedge fund known as the Swiss National Bank did something it had not done in years: it sold stocks. As we showed in November, the overall value of the SNB's US listed long holdings rose by over $2 billion to $90 billion, but all of this was due to the price appreciation as the central bank sold around $7bn of equities in Q3. This compares to purchases during 1H18 of around $6bn.

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SNB reports a loss of CHF 7.8 billion for third quarter of 2018

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) reports a loss of CHF 7.8 billion for the first three quarters of 2018. A valuation loss of CHF 3.7 billion was recorded on gold holdings. The loss on foreign currency positions amounted to CHF 5.3 billion. The profit on Swiss franc positions was CHF 1.5 billion.

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Rückenwind für die SNB

Die Nationalbank hat die Schweizer Zahlungsbilanz für das zweite Quartal veröffentlicht. Damit bietet sich erstmals die Gelegenheit, nachzuprüfen, ob die viel zitierten Europaängste Fluchtkapital ins Land gespült haben. Zur Erinnerung: Im März wurde in Italien ein neues Parlament gewählt, die den beiden Europagegnern und Anti-Establishment-Formationen Movimento 5 Stelle und Lega eine Mehrheit bescherten.

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Der Nationalbank sind die Hände gebunden

EZB-Präsident Mario Draghi konstatierte letzte Woche zufrieden, dass die aktuellen Turbulenzen in einzelnen Staaten auch dort bleiben und nicht andere Länder anstecken. Seine Kollegen in der Nationalbank, die diese Woche ihren geldpolitischen Entscheid fällen, dürften das etwas anders sehen.

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Switzerland Q2 growth numbers are impressive, but details are mixed

Manufacturing and sports events served as boosts to growth, while domestic consumption was a letdown.The latest Swiss GDP figures were impressive. According to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs’ quarterly estimates, Swiss real GDP grew by 0.7% q-o-q in Q2, slightly above our 0.6% projection and consensus. Average growth in the first half of 2018 was therefore the strongest since 2010.

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Inflation ist nicht Inflation

Das südamerikanische Land Venezuela führt gerade vor, was geschehen kann, wenn die Inflation ausser Kontrolle gerät. Der Internationale Währungsfonds rechnet bis Ende Jahr mit einer Teuerung von 1 Million Prozent. Eine solche Inflation wird etwa erreicht, wenn sich das Preisniveau rund alle vier Wochen verdoppelt. Wenn sich Geld in einem solchen Ausmass entwertet, verliert es jeden Nutzen, denn dann kann es seine Funktionen als Mittel zur...

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SNB banknote app updated for new 200-franc note

The Swiss National Bank’s ‘Swiss Banknotes’ app is designed to help the public familiarise themselves with the new banknotes. The popular app, which has been downloaded some 100,000 times, now also showcases the new 200-franc note. It can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple (itunes.apple.com) and Google Play (play.google.com) app stores.

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SNB reports a profit of CHF 5.1 billion for the first half of 2018

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) reports a profit of CHF 5.1 billion for the first half of 2018. A valuation loss of CHF 0.9 billion was recorded on gold holdings. The profit on foreign currency positions amounted to CHF 5.2 billion. The profit on Swiss franc positions was CHF 1.0 billion.

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Swiss National Bank commits to FX Global Code and supports establishment of foreign exchange committee

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has signed a Statement of Commitment to the FX Global Code (“Code”), thereby demonstrating that its internal processes are consistent with the principles of the Code. It also expects its regular counterparties to adhere to the Code and comply with the agreed rules of conduct.

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Sovereign Money Referendum: A Swiss Awakening to Fractional-Reserve Banking?

On Sunday 10 June 2018, Switzerland’s electorate voted on a referendum calling for the country’s commercial banks to be banned from creating money. In a country world-famous for its banking industry, this was quite an interesting turn of events. Known as the Sovereign Money Initiative or ‘Vollgeld’, the referendum was brought to the Swiss electorate in the form of a ‘Popular Initiative‘.

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SNB Statement on the outcome of the popular vote of 10 June 2018

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has acknowledged the outcome of the popular vote on the sovereign money initiative. The SNB has a constitutional and statutory mandate to pursue a monetary policy serving the interests of the country as a whole. It is charged with ensuring price stability while taking due account of economic developments.

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Nach Vollgeld-Schlacht: Wir Schweizer dürfen nie mehr zum Spielball ausländischer Ideologen werden

Wer sich intensiv mit der fachlichen Materie „Vollgeld-Initiative“ auseinandergesetzt hat, kann aufatmen. Wäre diese Initiative angenommen worden, hätte deren Umsetzung unser Land in ein wirtschaftliches und politisches Chaos gestürzt.

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Switzerland’s vote to change its monetary system – sensible or silly?

Sometimes Swiss voters are presented with questions that only specialists are equipped to answer. The vote on 10 June 2018 to change their monetary system appears to be one of these. On the surface it appears simple. Upon closer inspection it contains much complexity and uncertainty, compounded by a widespread misunderstanding of how the financial system works – banks do not act simply as intermediaries, lending out the deposits that savers place...

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“Vollgeld – Was spricht dagegen? (Sovereign Money—What are the Problems?),” RABE, 2018

Die Vollgeld-Initiative will die Schweizer Geldpolitik komplett umkrempeln. Künftig soll nur noch die Nationalbank Geld herstellen dürfen, sowohl Banknoten und Münzen als auch das elektronische Geld. Die Schweizer Geschäftsbanken wie die UBS oder die CS, die heute 90% des elektronischen Geldes herstellen, soll das künftig verboten sein.

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