Advertisement

Central bank records massive losses for Q1

The Local
The Local - [email protected]
Central bank records massive losses for Q1
Photo: AFP

Massive losses in currency exchange holdings led to the Swiss National Bank losing 30 billion francs in the first quarter of 2015, the central bank reported in interim results on Thursday.

Advertisement

The SNB said it suffered currency-related losses of 41.1 billion francs in the first three months of the year.

The losses occurred as a result of the central’s bank’s decision on January 15th to discontinue the minimum euro exchange rate of of 1.20 francs.

FX traders immediately bid up the value of the franc, driving it to near parity with the euro.

The appreciation of the franc led to “exchange-related losses on all investment currencies”.

The currency losses were accompanied by a one-billion-franc drop in the bank’s gold holdings, while this was offset by gains in interest income, dividends and investments in equities.

The first quarter loss contrasts with the 38-billion-franc profit the SNB reported for the 2014 year.

The bank said its financial result depends largely on developments in the gold, foreign exchange and capital markets.

“Strong fluctuations are therefore to be expected, and only provisional conclusions are possible as regards the annual result.”
 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also