Tainted by its association with Nazi Germany’s gold looters, perhaps, but the Swiss franc remains one of the world’s most popular investor currencies. And, rather like a reliable relative, it’s proved remarkably steady…
Monday 4 October
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei, SVP) seems to spark controversy every time it puts up a political poster.
Friday 12 February
While the secrecy surrounding Swiss banking is being torn to pieces by a German government intent on battling tax evasion by its citizens, a new trade is on the rise in Switzerland.
Monday 10 October
Many political parties talk left but act right when they win power.
Friday 5 April
As the idea of 'virtual currency' gains popularity, let's imagine what the world would be like without the real thing.
Like other state-owned mail services, Swiss Post is under pressure from private-sector competition and the internet, but it is not running scared. The firm is transforming itself into a media and technology brand.
This month we start a new series looking at the lives and empires of media barons. First is Michael Ringier who, in 1991, became the fifth generation of his Swiss family to head their eponymous empire. Since then Ringier…
Set among the embassies and doctors’ surgeries in Marylebone, London, this petite penthouse pulled in Swiss carpenters along with British and Danish storage solutions to deal with a mass of media and an upside-down layout…
Coop is the second largest retailer in Switzerland after Migros, with about 1,500 outlets and 44,000 employees. In 2005, it had a turnover of €8.6bn. It has 20 per cent of the country’s food retail business. As well as…
Manufacturers of equipment used by Nato forces have experienced a surge in demand and profits since the September 11 attacks. We look at what a German soldier in Afghanistan is given as standard kit, from high-tech night…
The Swiss carrier has established itself as a trusted link between Lugano and regional airports overlooked by the major airlines. Its focus on premium options and service is winning business clientele.
Nespresso, part of the Nestlé Group, invented those clever capsules to make a tasty, mess-free cup of coffee in 1986. Today, the company is booming thanks to its Swiss heritage and corporate skill.
The Alpa has become a cult camera for professionals, thanks to its razor-sharp detail and attractive finish. But it wasn’t always such a success story after the brand disappeared altogether in the 1990s. Monocle talks to…
La Chaux-de-Fonds is the traditional heart of the Swiss watch industry. In 2005 the country exported watches worth €7.7bn, accounting for 9 per cent of the nation’s total exports. Switzerland dominates the luxury end of the…
The new leaders tasked with saving Eastern Europe from economic doom, the Swedish town that's delighted it's being dumped on, and why French holidaymakers might want to take out more travel insurance.
While still a schoolgirl, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele was representing her family firm Chopard and visiting clients including Imelda Marcos. With her brother and her parents actively involved, business is full of kindred…
As millions of students around the world head back to university digs, the residents of Casa dell’Accademia have it much better than most. Here’s a lesson in inspired design on a strict budget.
The elections, the people, the big ideas and the issues you'l be hearing more about in Europe in the year to come.
Brunei prepares to cash in on the global halal food market, the world's largest wind turbine arrives, and an Italian ice cream maker goes green.
Gender equality is on the to-do list in France, local food is on the table in Helsinki, and holiday homes are on the shopping list in Switzerland
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