🧠 Eurovision of Eccentricity

• 🇨🇭 Trade. Switzerland suspends arms exports to the United States due to American strikes against Iran, citing its neutrality.
• 🇺🇸 Diplomacy. Trump threatens to destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz this Monday.
• 🇺🇸 Defence. Trump is considering reducing the American military operation against Iran, believing that the objectives are « very close » to being achieved.
• 🇨🇭 Justice. The investigation into the coach fire in Kerzers confirms that the perpetrator, under guardianship and unknown for violent acts, deliberately set himself alight, causing 6 deaths and 5 injuries.

Economy & Finance

• 🇩🇪 Conjuncture. The mood of German investors plummeted to -0.5 points in March, at its lowest since April 2025, marked by the sharpest decline since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
• 🇪🇺 Inflation. Annual inflation in the eurozone reached 1.9% in February, a slight acceleration compared to January (1.7%).
• 🇸🇦 Markets. Saudi Arabia anticipates a barrel of oil at over $180 if disruptions linked to the Iranian conflict extend beyond April.
• 🇨🇭 Rates. The Swiss National Bank has maintained its policy rate at 0% and remains ready to intervene in the foreign exchange market in response to the appreciation of the franc.
• 🇫🇷 Rates. The 10-year rate required to lend to France climbs to 3.6% in March, an unprecedented level since 2011, illustrating market distrust.
• 🇬🇧 Rates. The UK’s borrowing costs have reached 4.94%, a peak since 2008, amid inflation concerns fuelled by the energy crisis.
• 🇨🇭 Trade. Swiss chocolate sales fell by 7.9% in volume in 2025, but turnover rose by 12% to 2.47bn CHF thanks to price increases.
• 🇨🇭 Trade. Swiss watch exports surged by 9.2% in February to 2.2bn CHF, defying the broader decline in the country’s exports despite geopolitical uncertainties.
• 🇪🇺 Trade. The European Parliament’s Trade Committee has approved a bill on the EU-USA trade agreement, despite persistent doubts about American compliance with commitments.
• 🇸🇦 Trade. Middle Eastern oil exports fell by 60% in March, their lowest level in four years, due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Switzerland

• 🇨🇭 Budget. The Swiss Parliament has finalised a streamlined savings plan, reducing by 40% the cuts proposed by the government to 1.4-2 billion CHF per year for 2027-2029.
• 🇨🇭 Culture. Three threatened cartoonists from India, Hong Kong and Turkey are exhibiting at the Press Drawing House in Morges, after receiving the Courage Prize 2024-2025 for freedom of expression.
• 🇨🇭 Economy. The World Economic Forum is considering an overhaul of its board of directors following several scandals that have tarnished its reputation.
• 🇨🇭 Environment. A Zurich study reveals that PFAS, nicknamed « eternal pollutants », contaminate 99% of soils tested in 15 Swiss cantons, with higher levels near fire sites and in agricultural areas.
• 🇨🇭 Health. The Federal Council unveils a national strategy to combat medicine shortages, in the face of a popular initiative and increased dependence on global supply chains.
• 🇨🇭 Justice. The canton of Berne wishes to integrate femicide into its criminal statistics, but is awaiting a national definition before implementing it.
• 🇨🇭 Politics. Parliament rejects the counter-proposal to the initiative on neutrality, which will therefore go to a popular vote without modification.
• 🇨🇭 Politics. The Vaud Grand Council rejected a motion aimed at abolishing lifetime pensions for State Councillors convicted of criminal offences, the measure narrowly failing, 73 votes against 68.
• 🇨🇭 Real Estate. The National Council rejects a Socialist motion aimed at establishing automatic and periodic rent reviews, maintaining the status quo despite persistent price increases.
• 🇨🇭 Security. Cyberattacks and espionage activities are multiplying in Switzerland, particularly targeting research, innovation and critical infrastructure.
• 🇨🇭 Sport. Simon Ehammer wins the world indoor heptathlon title in Torun and sets a new world record with 6670 points.
• 🇨🇭 Transport. Swiss MPs approve a motion to make the digital driving licence the norm, removing the requirement to carry the physical document.
• 🇨🇭 Transport. Parliament approves the introduction of a transit tax for vehicles crossing Switzerland without stopping, in order to improve traffic flow, particularly at the Gotthard tunnel.

Elsewhere in the World

• 🇰🇪 Climate. Violent floods have killed 66 people and displaced more than 2,000 families in Kenya, as the capital Nairobi remains underwater following torrential rainfall.
• 🇦🇫 Conflict. A Pakistani air strike on a detoxification centre in Kabul is reported to have killed 408 people and injured 265, according to Taliban authorities, whilst Islamabad cites terrorist targets.
• 🇮🇷 Conflict. Under the pretext of military tensions, Tehran is maintaining an unprecedented internet blackout, depriving millions of citizens of contact with their loved ones at Nowruz.
• 🇸🇩 Conflict. A drone strike destroyed the el-Daein hospital during Eid, killing 64 people and injuring 89, a new episode of the civil war that has already killed more than 150,000 people in Sudan.
• 🇸🇸 Conflict. Nearly 100,000 people have fled South Sudan to Ethiopia in March, as clashes between government forces and opposition groups intensify in Jonglei State.
• 🇩🇪 Elections. In Rhineland-Palatinate, the CDU regains control after 35 years of Social Democratic dominance, whilst the far-right AfD reaches a record score of 20%.
• 🇸🇮 Elections. Outgoing Prime Minister Robert Golob narrowly won the legislative elections in Slovenia, but the extreme closeness of the result seriously complicates the formation of a coalition.
• 🇮🇹 Politics. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is organising a referendum on a controversial constitutional reform, but the majority of Italians struggle to understand the stakes of the vote.
• 🇨🇿 Politics. Tens of thousands of Czechs protested in Prague against the nationalist government of Andrej Babis, accused of arrogance and authoritarian drift.
• 🇮🇸 Politics. The Icelandic government is proposing a referendum on 29 August on resuming EU membership negotiations, nine years after withdrawing its candidacy.
• 🇰🇿 Politics. A new Constitution strengthening presidential power has been adopted by referendum, in a tense climate for the opposition and under strict control by the authorities.
• 🇲🇬 Politics. In Madagascar, the president is imposing a lie detector test on his future ministers to combat corruption, following the surprise dismissal of the Prime Minister.
• 🇧🇷 Security. Eight people, including a Comando Vermelho leader, were killed during a police raid in Rio, prompting buses to be set on fire in retaliation in the city.
• 🇸🇩 Security. A heavy weapons attack on a hospital in East Darfur has killed at least 64 people, including 13 children, and wounded 89, illustrating the deadly escalation of the Sudanese conflict.
• 🇳🇬 Security. At least 23 civilians have been killed and over 100 wounded in a series of suicide bombings attributed to Boko Haram in Maiduguri, despite American military support.

• 🇨🇭 Banking. Edmond de Rothschild posts record assets under management of 198bn CHF in 2025 (+8%) despite a slight decline in net profit to 73m CHF (-2.6%).
• 🇨🇭 Banking. UBS completes the transfer of 1.2M former Credit Suisse clients onto its own systems, marking a key milestone in the integration without major incident.
• 🇺🇸 Banking. UBS secures a national banking licence in the United States, broadening its range of services and strengthening its position in the American market.
• 🇨🇭 Industry. Stadler Rail’s revenue increases by 13% to 3.7bn CHF, supported by a record order book of 32bn CHF.
• 🇫🇷 M&A. Swiss fund InfraWealth takes 5.7% stake in La Française de l’Énergie, strengthening Swiss presence in low-carbon energy.
• 🇮🇹 M&A. Swisscom and Telecom Italia are creating a joint venture to deploy an extensive network of telecommunications towers on the peninsula, as local competition remains under pressure.
• 🇨🇭 Watchmaking. Audemars Piguet inaugurates a new 9,000 m² manufacture in Meyrin, continuing its ambitious investments despite an uncertain market.

SMI Index

📅 Data as of 2026-03-23 07:00

Forex CHF

📅 Data as of 2026-03-23 07:00