The Swiss National Bank (SNB), which shocked financial markets in January by removing its cap on the value of the franc against the euro, added that its willingness to intervene in foreign exchange markets and the negative interest rates make investment in Swiss francs less attractive so this should help ease pressure on the currency's value.
In its latest forecast, the SNB trimmed its projection of inflation this year to minus 1.0 percent from June's forecast of minus 1.2 percent, the 2016 forecast to minus 0.4 percent from a previous minus 0.5 percent and the 2017 forecast to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent, with the reduction in inflation expectations due to the drop in oil prices.
In August the inflation rate fell further to minus 1.4 percent from minus 1.3 percent in July.
After the SNB in January scrapped the 1.20 upper limit of the Swiss franc against the euro, it immediately jumped by 20 percent but has slowly depreciated since then, trading at 1.096 to the euro today for an appreciation since the start of the year of 9.5 percent.
Despite the risks facing the global economy, in particular uncertainty regarding China, the SNB still expects a moderate pace of recovery to continue and economic activity in Switzerland to pick up gradually in the second half of the year, with domestic demand supporting growth.
"If the international environment continues to improve and the overvaluation of the Swiss franc eases, exports should once again make a greater contribution to economic growth," the SNB said, confirming that it still expects growth this year of close to 1.0 percent.
In the second quarter, the Swiss economy expanded by 0.2 percent from the first quarter for annual growth of 1.2 percent, the same as in the first quarter.
The Swiss National Bank issued the following statement:
"The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is leaving the target range for the three-month Libor
unchanged at between −1.25% and –0.25%. The interest rate on sight deposits with the SNB
remains at –0.75%. Furthermore, the SNB will remain active in the foreign exchange market
as necessary, in order to take account of the impact of the exchange rate situation on inflation
and economic developments. Overall, the Swiss franc is still significantly overvalued, despite
a slight depreciation. The negative interest rates in Switzerland and the SNB’s willingness to
intervene as required in the foreign exchange market make investments in Swiss francs less
attractive; both of these factors serve to ease the pressure on the franc.
Overall, the new conditional inflation forecast differs very little from that in the June assessment. Owing primarily to the drop in oil prices, the forecast for the short term is somewhat lower than that presented in the previous quarter. For the current year, the forecast decreases by 0.2 percentage points to −1.2%; for 2016, it drops from −0.4% to −0.5%. The SNB continues to expect inflation to move back into positive territory at the beginning
of 2017. Averaged over the year, the conditional inflation forecast for 2017 increases by 0.1 percentage points to 0.4%. The forecast assumes that the three-month Libor will remain at –0.75% over the entire forecast horizon and that the Swiss franc will weaken further.
Global economic growth continued in the second quarter in line with the SNB’s expectations. In the advanced economies, growth was slightly more positive than in the first quarter; this was mainly attributable to the economic recovery in the US. The muted recovery in the euro area continued, due partly to the favourable exchange rate situation. Internationally, however, growth was not broad-based. This was reflected, for instance, in the lack of momentum in global trade and in low commodity prices.
The SNB expects the moderate pace of global economic recovery to continue. In the advanced economies, the recovery is likely to be underpinned by monetary policies which are still very expansionary, as well as favourable energy prices. Consequently, underutilisation of production capacity should decrease further in these countries. In a number of the major emerging economies, however, activity remains weak.
The SNB expects economic activity to pick up gradually in the second half of the year.
Domestic demand is likely to further support the economy. If the international environment
continues to improve and the overvaluation of the Swiss franc eases, exports should once
again make a greater contribution to economic growth. For the current year, the SNB still
expects real GDP growth of close to 1%."
www.CentralBankNews.info
Overall, the new conditional inflation forecast differs very little from that in the June assessment. Owing primarily to the drop in oil prices, the forecast for the short term is somewhat lower than that presented in the previous quarter. For the current year, the forecast decreases by 0.2 percentage points to −1.2%; for 2016, it drops from −0.4% to −0.5%. The SNB continues to expect inflation to move back into positive territory at the beginning
of 2017. Averaged over the year, the conditional inflation forecast for 2017 increases by 0.1 percentage points to 0.4%. The forecast assumes that the three-month Libor will remain at –0.75% over the entire forecast horizon and that the Swiss franc will weaken further.
Global economic growth continued in the second quarter in line with the SNB’s expectations. In the advanced economies, growth was slightly more positive than in the first quarter; this was mainly attributable to the economic recovery in the US. The muted recovery in the euro area continued, due partly to the favourable exchange rate situation. Internationally, however, growth was not broad-based. This was reflected, for instance, in the lack of momentum in global trade and in low commodity prices.
The SNB expects the moderate pace of global economic recovery to continue. In the advanced economies, the recovery is likely to be underpinned by monetary policies which are still very expansionary, as well as favourable energy prices. Consequently, underutilisation of production capacity should decrease further in these countries. In a number of the major emerging economies, however, activity remains weak.
The global economic recovery is fraught with risks. In particular, uncertainty regarding
economic developments in China has increased perceptibly. By contrast, the agreement of a
new bailout programme for Greece has soothed concerns over an escalation of the sovereign
debt crisis for the time being. Renewed turbulence in the international financial markets could
have a major impact on global monetary policy.
In Switzerland, GDP rose slightly in the second quarter, after having declined somewhat in the previous quarter. Thus, overall economic output stagnated in the first half of the year. Growth in employment continued at a slower pace. However, in manufacturing, employment decreased further. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to increase slightly during the summer months. Despite the fact that output remained stable overall following the appreciation of the Swiss franc in the first half of the year, the situation remains challenging for many companies. In view of the lower margins, these companies are under pressure to raise efficiency and reduce costs.
In Switzerland, GDP rose slightly in the second quarter, after having declined somewhat in the previous quarter. Thus, overall economic output stagnated in the first half of the year. Growth in employment continued at a slower pace. However, in manufacturing, employment decreased further. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate continued to increase slightly during the summer months. Despite the fact that output remained stable overall following the appreciation of the Swiss franc in the first half of the year, the situation remains challenging for many companies. In view of the lower margins, these companies are under pressure to raise efficiency and reduce costs.
www.CentralBankNews.info
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