Markets
The Retail Trading Boom: How Everyday Traders Reshaped the Industry
Two decades ago, forex and CFD trading were largely inaccessible to individual investors, requiring institutional connections, dedicated infrastructure, and significant capital just to open an account. Today, opening a…
How Central Bank Decisions Move Currency Markets
Central banks are among the most influential forces in the forex market. Interest rate decisions, in particular, can trigger significant currency volatility within seconds of an announcement, as traders rapidly reprice…
Dollar hits two-month high as Swiss franc, yen weaken on hawkish Fed outlook
The dollar rose 0.14% to 101.27 for a fourth straight daily advance, pressing the franc to its lowest level since May 2025, as Fed officials opened the door to further rate increases.
Dax dips as oil above $100 spooks European stocks
European equities opened lower on Thursday as Brent crude held above $100, weighed by renewed Middle East tensions and softening US tech sentiment.
US Futures Slip; Oil Bounces, SMI Erases Gains, Nvidia Pre-Market Down
Wall Street opens lower as oil stabilizes and geopolitical hopes offset by chip-sector pullback; SMI surrenders morning gains ahead of SNB decision.
The Origin of CFDs: A British Invention Born from a Tax Loophole
Contracts for Difference weren't originally designed as a global retail trading product — they emerged in London in the early 1990s largely as a tool for institutional investors to hedge stock positions without paying UK…
Euro area sovereign yields rise as French debt risk spikes
French OAT yields hit 4.5% and CDS spreads surge to 2020 highs, while German yields stay near 3.2% after the ECB lifted rates to 2.5%, raising concerns over euro‑zone fiscal health.
Frankfurt opens lower as oil surge and AI fears weigh on Europe's benchmark
Germany's DAX slipped 0.5% to 25,431 and the MDAX fell 1.1% on Monday morning, pressured by rising oil prices from Middle East tensions and new warnings about artificial intelligence risks.
SMI opens higher; Fed rate-hike odds near 93% as traders wait for Wednesday decision
The Swiss benchmark rose 0.1% to 13,815.84 as ABB led gainers. Investors stayed cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's rate decision, where a 25-bp hike is priced in at over 90%.
Swiss asking rents fall for first time in five years
Newhome data shows a 1.7% drop in national listing prices from July 2025 to July 2026, led by sharp declines in Ticino and Zurich.
From Gold to Floating Rates: A Brief History of the Forex Market
The modern forex market as we know it is younger than most people assume. For decades, currency values were pegged under the Bretton Woods system, established in 1944, which tied major currencies to the US dollar, itself…
SMI higher ahead; Fed wait, oil dip weigh on Wall Street
The Swiss Market Index opens 0.3% higher as traders position ahead of the US Federal Reserve's rate decision. Oil retreats after a sharp Tuesday rally.
SMI Expected Lower as Oil Above $100 Weighs on Global Markets
Swiss index slides amid rising oil, inflation fears; Meta surges on AI launch while Asian stocks dip.
Swiss Economic Calendar: Sep 10–17 Covers Earnings, Inflation Data and Policy Meetings
Switzerland's key economic releases include BFS inflation figures, Repower and Helvetia Baloise half-year results, OECD country report, and UBS banking-law testimony before the Council of States.
US stocks open higher; SMI extends gains as Fed decision calms markets
Wall Street leads gainers after the Fed raised rates 25 basis points. The SMI climbs, tech stocks surge pre-market, and UBS capital-rule debate is deferred.
SMI Hovers Near Loss Zone as Nestlé Slips on Russia Worry; Gold Gains
Switzerland's blue-chip index edges lower while Nestlé falls on Moscow administration news; pharmaceuticals and gold extend gains.
SMI Gains as Fed Rate Hike Brings Relief; UBS Decision Deferred
Swiss shares post modest gains after the US Federal Reserve raised rates by 25 basis points as expected. UBS capital-rule debate resumes next week.
European Stocks Edged Higher as Oil Prices Continued to Slide
EuroStoxx 50 gained 0.58% to 6,302.86 as falling crude supported equities, while the Fed's latest rate hike drew mixed reactions from analysts.
SMI Falls Below 14,000 as Oil Hits $100; Meta and Chime Lead Gainers
Switzerland's SMI slipped below 14,000 for the first time since mid-June on rising oil and inflation fears. Meta rose around 5% ahead of its AI agent launch, while Chime jumped 11% on a $590 million bank acquisition.
US markets open lower; SMI falls 1.2% with UBS leading declines
The SMI dropped 1.22% to 13,708.71 as oil prices near $108 and the 10-year Treasury yield hit 5.041% weighed on equities. UBS led losers in Switzerland.
UBS's Kunkel sees broadening rally, warns of three key risks
The UBS global family and institutional wealth CIO anticipates widening equity gains driven by earnings, while flagging oil shocks, AI monetisation doubts and fiscal pressures as top threats.
SMI Drops Below 14,000 for First Time Since Mid-June as Energy Fears Weigh
Switzerland's benchmark index falls to 13,919 as oil pushes past $100 a barrel and 19 of 20 SMI blue chips trade lower. Chime Financial surges nearly 11% in US premarket.
CFDs Explained: How Contracts for Difference Work
Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are derivative instruments that let traders speculate on price movements of an asset — stocks, commodities, indices, or currencies — without owning the underlying asset itself. This…
Swiss Equity Favorites Add Two New Laggards; Sandoz Sets Ambitious 2035 Targets
Partners Group and Dätwyler anchor the bottom of the watchlist, while Sandoz unveils a plan to double revenue to over $22 billion by 2035.