Hans Hess

Swiss Feel Jobless Chill as Axe Falls on Alpine Idyll

For decades, the town of Visp at the foot of the Swiss Alps enjoyed the steady stream of affluent skiers heading to Zermatt and the tax income from chemicals maker Lonza Group AG. Lately, the inflow of money has ebbed.

Swiss Exporters Mull Euro Wages to Ease Franc Gain

Swiss companies are taking matters into their own hands as the central bank shows little willingness to weaken the franc after it surged to a record.

Burger-Loving Kuwait Becomes Oasis for U.S. Franchises: Retail

Jonathan Spiel has tried three times to turn his Tea Lounge in Brooklyn into a thriving chain. Four years ago, he closed his second location after his landlord raised the rent. Another outlet failed because of poor sales, and he abandoned his last attempt when a co-op board imposed tough rules.

Swissmem Chief Sees More Pressure on Franc, SonntagsZeitung Says

The Swissmem industry group head Hans Hess said pressure on the franc to appreciate grew after the election results in Greece and France, SonntagsZeitung reported.

Saudis Buy Burgers With Royal Handouts in Boom Luring Carlyle

Abdullah al-Luhaymi spends weekend nights cruising around the Saudi capital Riyadh on his motorbike before stopping to meet friends, usually at an American-style fast-food joint. Each month he has more to choose from.

SNB Should Keep Franc Limit, Industry Group Tells Tages-Anzeiger

If the Swiss central bank abandoned its limit of 1.20 francs per euro and allowed the currency to appreciate, the consequences would be catastrophic for the country’s exporters, Hans Hess, head of industry group Swissmem, told Tages-Anzeiger newspaper.

Industry Group Tells SonntagsZeitung Franc Cap Raise Unlikely

Swiss industry group Swissmem doesn’t believe the Swiss National Bank will raise the Swiss franc’s cap further against the euro, SonntagsZeitung reported, citing Hans Hess, the group’s president.

Swiss Pleas to Raise Franc Cap Fail to Sway SNB on European Debt Crisis

The Swiss central bank is resisting calls from executives and politicians to further weaken the franc amid investor demand for a haven from the region’s sovereign debt crisis.

Swiss Production Stays Put in Face of Strong Franc, KPMG Says

Most Swiss industrial companies are holding off from shifting production to cheaper countries even as Switzerland’s strong franc makes labor costs 50 percent higher than in Germany, KPMG’s Swiss industry chief said.

Euro Drops to Month Low Against Yen on Italian Concern; Yen, Dollar Rally

The euro fell to a one-month low against the yen and slumped versus the dollar on concern Italy’s new government will struggle to win enough support to prevent the region’s debt crisis from engulfing the nation.

"We are talking up to 10,000 lay-offs in Switzerland in our industry."

- Hans Hess on Dec 11, 2012

Europe

Switzerland

Swiss National Bank

Germany

Former Jets Wide Receiver George Sauer Dies, N.Y. Times Says

Greenhouse Gases Hit Threshold Unseen in 3 Million Years

Clinton Won’t Be Hurt by Benghazi Controversy, Kaine Says

U.S. Stocks Advance on Economic Optimism Amid Stimulus

Navy $37 Billion Ships Seen Unsuitable Have 2-Year Window