
Headlines:
UBS Swiss June private consumption index rises to 2.31 points vs 2.10
in May
UBS AG said its monthly indicator measuring private
consumption in Switzerland rose to 2.31 points in June, recovering from a
downturn and a revised 2.10 points in May. The increase in June is attributable
in part to the number of new car registrations, which were up 3.5 pct
year-on-year, and to very good consumer sentiment, the Swiss bank said, adding
that the only negative impact came from the retail sector, where business
activity softened somewhat.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-18539541.htm
Source:
CNNMoney.com
Firms failing to plan boardroom handovers
A report has
found that half of Swiss companies fail to plan properly for the succession of
top positions when managers step down. The study's authors conclude that many
managers have difficulty plotting the end of their own careers. The findings
come against the backdrop of a number of recent high profile executive handovers
in large Swiss companies.
http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Firms_failing_to_plan_boardroom_handovers.html?siteSect=105&sid=8067757&cKey=1185876032000
Source:
Swissinfo
Switzerland Considers Gun Control
Switzerland's the only
country that requires its soldiers to keep guns at home. But concerns over high
suicide rates and killings within families have caused some to ask whether
having them there is simply too dangerous. All Swiss men must do military
service and when they go home, they take their assault rifles and 50 rounds of
ammunition with them. The idea is to have an army ready for call up anytime.
Although neutral Switzerland hasn't fought a war for centuries, Christoph
Keckeis, chief of the armed forces, said he sees no reason for change.
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2709342,00.html
Source:
Deutsche Welle
Currency Market:
The Swiss currency was mixed today
morning. The currency was slightly strong against the dollar and sterling, but
saw choppy action in trading with the Euro and Yen. Generally, the franc was
moved little from the favorable consumption report. The slight advance of Swiss
franc was also attributed to increased speculation that investors are unwinding
carry trades. As of 14:00 EST USDCHF was trading at 1.2035.

Equity Market: Swiss Market Index:
Shares in Swiss Market
Index soared tracking gains from US equities. Today’s advance was the biggest
one day gain in a year after declining for six consecutive days. The rally was
mostly lead by financial stocks. The country’s largest bank, UBS, rose 2.83
percent whereas Credit Suisse shares gained 2.2 percent. The market's only
decliners were SGS, closing off 14 at 1,460 sfr, and Nobel Biocare, down 0.50 at
365 sfr, in the wake of yesterday's appointment of Domenico Scala as new
CEO.

Fixed-Income Market: 10-Year Swiss Government Bonds:
Bond
yields surged as investors tend to shift money in rebounding equity markets. The
yield on the benchmark rose 3.6 basis points closing at 3.128