The Swiss Economy and the Franc

While the economy of Switzerland is relatively small, it does have considerable significance in the global financial community. Over 11% of Switzerland’s GDP is made up of financial services, and the nation’s very strict policies around banking secrecy and neutrality make the country a popular destination for the storage of global funds. Although in recent times some of the secrecy around Switzerland’s banking has been removed, it is possible that Swiss banks are home to as much as a third of global offshore funds. As Switzerland is a neutral country with a long-standing reputation as a centre for banking, the Bank for International Settlement has its home in Basel. Although the SNB continues to target pricing stability, stability in terms of growth has not been achieved, with Switzerland’s GDP growth dropping to negative points on at least four occasions over the last two decades. Inflation has, however, been relatively well controlled in the last 20 years, with debt holding steady at around 55% for some time. Swiss unemployment is very low, despite the fact that the country’s manufacturing industry is in decline, but its chemical, pharmaceutical and electric machinery industries are still competitive. The major component of the Swiss economy is the service industry, and the financial services industry in particular, and this contributes strongly to the high per-capita income that is enjoyed by many Swiss citizens.

Factors That Drive the Swiss Franc

There are numerous factors that drive the exchange rate of the Swiss Franc, including the following:

• Economic data releases – These include GDP data, information about industrial production and retail sales, trade balances and inflation rates. Other important information deserving of attention includes employment figures, scheduled SNB meetings, and any daily news pertaining to natural disasters, political climate, or any new government policy. All of these factors affect the exchange rate of the Swiss Franc.
• Swiss banking services – One major factor contributing to the value of the Swiss Franc is the worldwide demand for Switzerland’s banking services as a secure and confidential place to hold offshore funds. The Swiss Franc is also a stable alternative to the United States Dollar or the Pound Sterling in times of uncertainty and turbulence. Whenever other economies show signs of deterioration, the Swiss Franc increases in popularity with speculators and traders.

The Swiss Franc and Carry Trading

Carry trading is a trading strategy that is popular with many investors. Although one of the most common currencies for this style of trading is the Japanese Yen, the Swiss Franc is also popular with carry traders thanks to its low rates, liquidity and stability. Usually, carry trades that involve the Swiss Franc pair it with the Pound Sterling or the Euro, so investors wishing to participate in Forex trading with this currency must pay close attention to interest rates in the Eurozone and in the UK to determine the demand for the Swiss Franc.

Factors That are Unique to the Swiss Franc

Switzerland is famous for its neutrality as a nation, and this factor is exceptionally important in terms of the Swiss Franc currency and the country’s economy as a whole. Switzerland is independent from the Eurozone countries, although it does harmonise several of its policies with EU countries. Switzerland has less sensitivity to its neighbours’ economic performance due to its being  a destination country of choice for the storage of offshore funds. Switzerland’s reliance on its financial sector does pose some risks, as some of the laws around the country’s banking secrecy have now been relaxed under pressure from other countries, including Germany and the USA. This may deter some people who would prefer to keep their money secret and safe from utilising these services, especially as some other nations such as Singapore have responded to this by tightening up their banking rules in order to promote themselves as a viable alternative for the holding of offshore accounts.

The Swiss Franc is also only controlled by decisions over interest rates made by the SNB rather than by economic conditions within the country. This is primarily because the Swiss Franc is more dependent on its utility as a stable, reliable and liquid alternative currency to other major currencies such as the US Dollar.