Switzerland edition

John Bond, just one of several former Xtrata executives sacked from Glencore Xstrata board. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Chairman purged from Glencore Xstrata board

The chairman of newborn mining and commodities giant Glencore Xstrata, John Bond, was on Thursday axed by its annual general meeting in Zug, just weeks after the Swiss-based group was created via a merger of two key players. READ () »

Richemont headquarters in Geneva. Photo: Richemont

Richemont plans higher dividend after profit rise

Geneva-based luxury goods giant Richemont boosted net profit for the 2012-2013 year by 30 percent as expected, with strong performances in its jewellery and watch divisions and by favourable exchange rates, the group said on Thursday. READ () »

Photo: European Union External Action

Swiss wait for EU tax evasion initiative

Switzerland said Tuesday that it was ready to boost cooperation with the European Union in the latter's battle with international tax evasion, provided Brussels made a formal request for talks. READ () »

Glencore-Xstrata reports higher copper output

Swiss-based mining giant Glencore Xstrata raised its copper production by 18 percent in the first three months of 2012 from output in the same period a year ago, the company said on Monday. READ () »

The trial is expected to last months. Photo: Federal Criminal Court

Major money laundering case opens in Bellinzona

Five Czech citizens and a Belgian are appearing before the federal criminal court in Bellinzona on Monday charged with money laundering and other crimes. READ () »

Joe Hogan has been at the ABB helm for five years. Photo: ABB

ABB Chief Exec quits ‘on personal grounds’

Zurich-based ABB is looking for a new CEO following the surprise announcement that American Joe Hogan is leaving the Swiss-Swedish technology concern. READ () »

Hervé Falciani in Spanish court. Photo: Pool/AFP

Spain refuses to extradite Swiss bank data 'thief'

A Spanish court refused on Wednesday to extradite a former HSBC bank employee to Switzerland where he is wanted for allegedly stealing data that exposed thousands of suspected tax dodgers. READ () »

Bürgin arrives at court on Wednesday. Photo: Roslan Rahman/AFP

Former UBS exec jailed over underage prostitute

A former UBS executive director was sentenced on Wednesday to more than four months in jail for having sex with an underaged Singaporean prostitute in a sleaze scandal that sparked uproar in the city-state. READ () »

Venezuelans stole funds via Swiss acounts: FBI

A senior Venezuelan government bank official has been charged in the United States for using fake transactions to steal millions of dollars which were sent to Swiss and US accounts, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. READ () »

Adecco profits plunge over 'challenging' France

First quarter net profits for Swiss-based Adecco, the world's biggest temporary staffing group, dropped 40 percent to 67 million euros ($87.6 million) from a year earlier, due to restructuring costs and plummeting activities in its main market, France. READ () »

Colgate-Palmolive plans HQ move to Basel

Toothpaste and soap company Colgate-Palmolive is planning to move its European headquarters from Geneva to the canton of Basel, affecting 65 positions, according to a report. READ () »

The annual meeting of Switzerland's largest bank was held at Zurich's Hallenstadion. Photo: UBS

UBS shareholders approve executive pay

Despite sharp criticism from a handful of UBS shareholders, a strong majority approved pay and bonuses for the executive of Switzerland’s largest bank at the company’s annual meeting in Zurich on Thursday. READ () »

Glencore Xstrata launches after merger

The long-awaited merger between commodities trader Glencore and mining giant Xstrata, both based in Switzerland, was completed on Thursday and the new company said it will be listed on stock exchanges in London and Hong Kong. READ () »

Swiss Re CEO Michel Lies. Photo: Swiss Re

Swiss Re benefits from cut in catastrophes

Switzerland-based reinsurance giant Swiss Re on Thursday posted a first quarter net profit that was 21 percent higher than in the same period a year earlier at $1.4 billion, as fewer catastrophes resulted in lower-than-expected claims. READ () »

JobTalk Switzerland

Photo: Fortune Live Media/Flickr

Ten tips for Swiss business etiquette

Congratulations, you’ve just landed yourself a job in Switzerland. Now for the hard part: learning a new business etiquette. To help you find your feet quickly, we've asked Swiss business image consultant Monika Seeger for some tips. READ () »