Switzerland’s Central Bank Is Stomaching Stronger Franc For Now
Bloomberg
Published Jan 27, 2020 04:42AM ET
Updated Jan 27, 2020 05:41AM ET
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Sight deposits at the Swiss National Bank increased only marginally last week, suggesting President Thomas Jordan and his colleagues aren’t taking much action to counter the strengthening franc.
Iran-U.S. tensions and fears about the spreading Coronavirus has lifted the haven franc this year. Earlier on Monday, it breached the 1.07 per euro mark to touch a fresh three-year high.
Yet total sight deposits rose just 0.22% to 587 billion francs ($605 billion) in the week ending Jan. 24, central bank figures show.
While there’s been no evidence of interventions recently, the threat of action remains remains alive. SNB President Thomas Jordan told Bloomberg Television last week that the pledge to sell the franc if needed remains in place alongside the central bank’s record-low interest rates.
Last week, euro-area officials expressed optimism over signs of economic stabilization, citing easing global trade tensions and a mildly expansionary fiscal policy. UBS Group AG reversed its call for an SNB rate cut in March.
“The SNB is tolerating a bit stronger franc, maybe also because the economic environment is looking a bit better,” Credit Suisse (SIX:CSGN) Group AG economist Maxime Botteron said.
Responding to a U.S. decision to add Switzerland back on its watch list for currency manipulators, Jordan said the SNB was only looking to stave off deflationary conditions with its purchases of foreign currency.
He also said the SNB had the room to further cut its deposit rate, now at -0.75%,
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Written By: Bloomberg
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