BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks closed higher on Monday amid rising hopes about global economic recovery gathering momentum on faster rollout of vaccines and optimism about
Swiss Consumer Sentiment Weakens In January
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Swiss consumer sentiment deteriorated slightly in January, survey data from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, showed on Thursday.
The consumer sentiment index fell to -14.6 in January from -13.0 in the preceding quarter. The indicator remained below its long-term average of -5.0.
Expectations regarding general economic development were more pessimistic than in October s survey with the index easing to -18.6 from -14.3.
While the index on the financial situation in the last twelve months has increased somewhat to -12.4 from -14.8, the surveyed households expectations regarding their own financial situation decreased again slightly to -7.3 from -6.6.
Pound Climbs As BoE Dismisses Negative Interest Rate Prospect
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The pound gained ground against its major opponents in the European session on Thursday, as the Bank of England left its interest rate and the quantitative easing programme unchanged and signaled that negative interest rate policy is not imminent.
The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee, headed by Governor Andrew Bailey, unanimously voted to hold the interest rate at 0.10 percent and the quantitative easing at GBP 895 billion in the latest policy meeting.
The MPC said it did not wish to send any signal that it intended to set a negative Bank Rate at some point in the future. It concluded overall that it would be appropriate to start the preparations to provide the capability to do so if necessary, in the future.
Swiss Market Ends On Firm Note
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Switzerland stock market shrugged off a weak start, gained in strength as the day progressed, and despite a mild setback later on in the session, ended on a firm note on Thursday.
The benchmark SMI ended with a gain of 85.27 points or 0.79% at 10,860.95, slightly off the session s high of 10,866.63. The index slid to a low of 10,731.68 in early trades.
Roche Holding gained 2.25% after the company reported net income of CHF 15.1 billion for 2020, an increase of 17% (7% in CHF), mainly due to the lower goodwill write-offs compared to the previous year.
Partners Group gained about 3%. Alcon and Credit Suisse ended 2 to 2.2% up. Swiss Re, Novartis and Richemont gained 1.5 to 1.65%, while SGS ended up by a little over 1% and UBS Group closed 0.65% up.
Business owners have met to discuss the sustainability plan of the Sustaining Competitive and Responsible Enterprises (SCORE) project to improve upon quality, productivity, and competitiveness of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana.
The SCORE project is expected to end by the close of 2021.
The SCORE is an International Labour Organisation (ILO) global programme, introduced into the country in 2011 under three phases and had helped achieved remarkable progress in many business operations among SMEs in Ghana.
The two-day engagement, was, therefore, to help in strengthening the structures of implementing partners to facilitate the continuous of SCORE in the country.
Mr Samuel Onoma Asiedu, National Project Coordinator of the ILO SCORE Ghana Project, said with the project entering its third and final stage, it had become useful for operators to meet and plan its sustainability.