John Revill

Holcim brushed off higher energy prices and rising interest rates to hike its full-year sales guidance on Wednesday after the world's largest cement maker beat second-quarter forecasts.

Holcim was the biggest gainer among European construction stocks on Wednesday after the world's biggest cement maker beat earnings forecasts and raised its full year sales outlook.

Logitech International chief Bracken Darrell remains confident about the company's growth potential, despite the computer peripherals maker reporting a drop in sales and profits and cutting its guidance for a second time this year.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and France footballing legend Michel Platini were both cleared of corruption charges by a Swiss court on Friday after a seven-year investigation during which they were booted out of the sport.

Switzerland wants to expand its emergency food reserves to make sure the neutral country is not hit by shortages of coffee, grain and sugar caused by over-extended supply chains, climate change and conflicts like Ukraine.

Siemens is buying U.S. tech company Brightly Software from private equity owner Clearlake Capital for $1.58 billion, the German engineering group said on Monday, its latest move to broaden its software credentials and grow faster than rivals.

The trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and French footballing legend Michel Platini over alleged corrupt payments ground to a halt on Wednesday when Blatter said he was too ill to testify.

Swiss prices increased in May by their highest level in nearly 14 years, the government said on Thursday, as Switzerland became the latest country to be hit by more expensive fuel and food costs plaguing economies around the world.

Switzerland's economic upswing is expected to ease this year as higher inflation, the war in Ukraine and renewed Chinese lockdowns slow the post-pandemic recovery that generated 0.4% growth in the first quarter, the government said on Tuesday.

Holcim will use cash raised from the sale of its Indian business for acquisitions focused on building products and solutions, Chief Executive Jan Jenisch said on Monday, with the cement-maker currently eyeing 10 potential targets.

Swiss voters on Sunday backed proposals to make global TV streaming services such as Netflix Inc, Amazon and Disney invest some of their revenues generated in Switzerland into domestic film-making.

Switzerland's fabled neutral status is about to face its biggest test in decades, with the defence ministry tilting closer to Western military powers in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Siemens will quit the Russian market due to the war in Ukraine, it said on Thursday, taking a 600 million euro ($630 million) hit to its business during the second quarter, with more costs to come.

Geberit will raise prices again this year as it tackles "an unprecedented surge" in raw materials costs hitting the construction industry, the Swiss plumbing products maker said on Wednesday.

Logitech cut its 2023 outlook on Tuesday, marking a rare downgrade from the computer mouse and webcam maker, but said it still expects to gain from people buying equipment as they move to hybrid working.

Logitech cut its 2023 outlook as a result of the Ukraine conflict on Tuesday, marking a rare downgrade from the computer mouse and webcam maker, which grew rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and prompting its shares to fall.

Syngenta Group increased its first-quarter sales by 26% as farmers bought seeds and sprays early to avoid possible shortages later in the year, the Swiss agrochemicals company which is planning a $10 billion IPO said on Thursday.

Makers of chocolate bars and coffee to lawn mowers and industrial robots succeeded in passing on soaring costs to consumers, first-quarter earnings showed on Thursday, allaying fears higher prices could dent demand for their products.

Switzerland has become more vulnerable to a shock from its inflated property sector, Swiss National Bank Vice Chairman Fritz Zurbruegg said on Tuesday, adding it is not the job of monetary policy to curb the risks.

The Swiss National Bank has doubled its inflation forecast for this year, citing tensions including the Ukrainian war, but held fast to its expansive monetary policy on Thursday with the world's lowest interest rates.

The Swiss National Bank will take "all necessary measures" to tackle higher prices in Switzerland, SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan said on Thursday, indicating a shift in tone at the central bank that for years has battled to tame the strong Swiss franc.

The Swiss National Bank repeated on Monday its pledge to intervene on the currency markets to curb a rise in the franc after safe-haven inflows driven by the Ukraine conflict briefly pushed the currency above parity with the euro.

Swiss voters looked set to clearly reject a campaign that aimed to make Switzerland the first country to ban experiments on animals, according to early projections by state broadcaster SRF on Sunday.

Swiss voters rejected a proposal by animal rights activists to make Switzerland the first country to ban medical and scientific experiments on animals, but approved tougher restrictions on cigarette advertising in referendums held on Sunday.

Voters in Switzerland will decide on Sunday whether to become the first country to ban animal testing in a referendum that will also consider tightening controls on cigarette advertising.

SWISS-VOTE-ANIMALS:Swiss to vote on becoming first country to ban animal testing

The comment came after two high-profile cases involving suspected Russian agents trying to infiltrate sites in Switzerland.

Credit Suisse is aiming for an annual profit of 5 to 6 billion Swiss francs for the next two years as the bank puts its problems behind it, Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam told Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag in an interview to be published on Sunday.