<p>Switzerland's trade surplus leapt 69.6 percent to three billion francs ($3.2 billion) in November, largely owing to a drop in imports, customs officials said on Monday.</p>
<p>The Swiss government on Tuesday cut its 2012 growth forecast to 0.5 percent from 0.9 percent, as the eurozone crisis was expected to accelerate a slowdown in the country's economy.</p>
<p>Switzerland's trade surplus increased 10.2 percent last month to 2.2 billion francs ($2.4 billion) despite the impact of the strong franc on exports, customs officials said on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The Swiss trade surplus hit a record in May, with imports plunging during the month as gold imports from Vietnam vanished, the Swiss customs authority said on Thursday. </p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;">Watchmakers gave upbeat forecasts for 2011 at the industry's largest fair on Wednesday, although the Japan earthquake and instability in the Middle East cast a shadow.<br /></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; border-collapse: collapse;">Vibrant Asian demand propped up Swiss trade last year despite the rising Swiss franc, as Switzerland's flagship watch industry restored its exports to pre-crisis levels, authorities said Thursday.<br /> </span></p>
