Business

Economy and markets, Swiss companies.

Business

Fed and Bank of England Face Public Trust Deficit

The U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) and Bank of England (BoE) are facing a 'public trust deficit,' according to the Financial Times published on July 14, 2026. This erosion of credibility could be linked to rising long-term inflation expectations—what households and investors predict for future price movements. The newspaper presents this connection as a working hypothesis rather than an established fact. No quantified data accompanies this analysis in available sources.

14 July 2026 at 14:43

Business

Handelsblatt: How AI Redistributes Support Work to Consumers

An opinion piece published July 14, 2026 in Handelsblatt argues that artificial intelligence does not eliminate jobs but instead transfers customer support work to consumers themselves. The author, co-founder of a German digital skills training company and professor at the University of St. Gallen, contends that companies increasingly outsource support to AI assistants that guide customers to solve their problems independently. She illustrates this trend by recounting how she repaired her home mesh Wi-Fi network alone after spending hours on unsuccessful phone support lines, guided for hours by the AI assistant Claude.

14 July 2026 at 13:22

Business

US-Iran Conflict: Third Night of Strikes and 20% Tax on Strait of Hormuz

The United States conducted strikes against Iranian targets for the third consecutive night on the night of July 13-14, 2026, according to Handelsblatt. This 72-hour military escalation is accompanied by an announcement from President Donald Trump: a 20% tax on all goods transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Trump presents this measure as re-establishing a naval blockade—a term designating the prohibition of maritime access to an opposing territory. This strait is the primary shipping corridor for petroleum exports from Gulf countries.

14 July 2026 at 12:37

Business

Green Steel in Europe: The EU Deploys a Regulatory Arsenal to Stimulate Demand

The European Union is fundamentally reshaping its steel policy to target green steel demand rather than just supply. In early July 2026, new EU trade measures tightened restrictions on steel imports. The European Commission is preparing an Industrial Accelerator Act that would require public fund recipients to incorporate low-carbon materials in infrastructure, industrial facilities, and buildings. According to a BCG analysis shared exclusively with Handelsblatt on July 14, 2026, this policy could generate approximately 9 million tonnes of additional green steel demand per year starting in 2029.

14 July 2026 at 12:21

Business

Marriage Contracts in Germany: What Couples Risk Without Legal Protection

Without a marriage contract, married couples in Germany are automatically subject to Zugewinngemeinschaft—community of acquests—a property regime that keeps assets separate during marriage but splits gains accumulated during divorce, according to Handelsblatt. Pension rights are subject to separate division through Versorgungsausgleich. For example: an estate growing from €100,000 to €300,000 during marriage triggers a payment of €100,000 to the ex-spouse. Family law specialists recommend contracts to manage these effects, especially for couples with children.

14 July 2026 at 11:20

Business

FTC v. Henkel: Lawsuit Opens to Block $725 Million Liquid Nails Acquisition

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission), the U.S. antitrust authority, opened a lawsuit on July 14, 2026, in the U.S. District Court in New York to block Henkel's acquisition of Liquid Nails, owned by Pittsburgh Paint, for $725 million. The FTC argues that the deal would eliminate the only genuine competition in the U.S. liquid adhesives market, where Loctite (Henkel) and Liquid Nails are the two dominant brands. Henkel disputes this analysis, claiming its premium-tier products and Liquid Nails' budget positioning target different market segments. The jury-waived trial is expected to last several weeks.

14 July 2026 at 11:02

Business

German labor market: foreign workers have offset demographic decline

Foreign workers have been the main driver of employment growth in Germany from June 2014 to June 2025, according to the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Germany's federal employment agency. Third-country nationals outside the EU accounted for 43% of this net employment growth, with approximately one-third coming from the eight major countries of origin of asylum seekers. Meanwhile, the working-age population with German passports declined by 3.9 million. For the first time, the available labor force is projected to contract in 2026.

14 July 2026 at 10:50

Business

Bank of America Warns Bullish Investors Against Stock Overexposure

Bank of America Corp. issued a warning on July 14, 2026, to investors aggressively buying stocks, recommending they reduce their exposure. The warning was published as part of the bank's monthly survey results, according to Bloomberg. This caution is based on the Global Fund Manager Survey—BofA's monthly poll of hundreds of institutional fund managers worldwide—which measures portfolio positioning across major asset classes and investor sentiment. Extremely bullish positioning from the survey is interpreted as a contrarian signal: when nearly all managers are already buying, the potential for new capital inflows diminishes and market reversal risk increases.

14 July 2026 at 10:08

Business

Le Slip Français enters Paris stock exchange targeting €5 million

Le Slip Français, a French underwear brand founded in 2011, entered the Paris stock exchange on July 14, 2026. The company is aiming to raise €5 million to accelerate its development. This listing comes amid a difficult period for French textiles: the sector has lost over 85% of its jobs since 1990, falling from 425,000 to 62,500 employees. Facing Asian competition, manufacturers are now focusing on quality and traceability as competitive advantages. The 2030 Alpine Winter Olympics are viewed as an opportunity to showcase French textile expertise on the world stage.

14 July 2026 at 09:32

Business

China-Germany Trade: Chinese Exports Surge 27% in June 2026

In June 2026, Chinese exports to Germany surged 27.2% year-on-year, according to Beijing's Customs Administration data. This growth significantly outpaced the average toward the European Union (+18.5%) and the United States (+13.9%). Over the first half of 2026, China shipped $67.5 billion in goods to Germany and imported only $45.2 billion, creating a German trade deficit of $22.3 billion. Chinese competition is intensifying in electric vehicles and machine tools, both cornerstones of German industry.

14 July 2026 at 05:05

Business

Ukraine: 25 leaders meet in Paris as EU fails to pass sanctions package in Brussels

On July 13, 2026, 25 heads of state and government from the Coalition of the Willing—an informal group of countries supporting Ukraine outside formal EU and NATO structures—met in Paris, announcing sustained support for Kyiv and prioritizing Ukrainian air defense strengthening. Simultaneously in Brussels, EU foreign ministers failed to adopt a new sanctions package against Russia. Several member states prioritized commercial interests: Italy and Bulgaria refused to sanction the Kulevi oil terminal in Georgia, which processes and re-exports Russian oil.

14 July 2026 at 04:42

Business

Nursing homes in Germany: resident out-of-pocket costs reach €3,364 per month in 2026

In Germany, the average monthly out-of-pocket cost for nursing home residents reached €3,364 as of July 1, 2026, representing a €256 increase from the previous year, according to the vdek, the federal association of German substitute health insurance funds. This amount covers care, accommodation, meals, and facility investment costs. When residents can no longer finance their stay, German law provides several forms of assistance, including Hilfe zur Pflege (social care assistance) administered by the Sozialamt under specific conditions.

14 July 2026 at 03:43

Business

Qualifizierungsgeld: Germany's training subsidy reached only 350 employees in twenty months

Launched in early 2024, Qualifizierungsgeld—a German federal aid covering 60% of net salary for employees undergoing reskilling training—reached only around 350 people between April 2024 and December 2025. Actual spending was €108,035 in 2024 and €442,408 in 2025, far short of the €360 million annual budget. Data revealed by Handelsblatt from a parliamentary inquiry by the Greens fuels criticism over the scheme's complexity and inadequacy.

14 July 2026 at 03:31

Business

India: Jefferies Sees Large-Cap Stocks as More Reasonably Valued

Indian large-cap stocks—the country's 100 largest companies by market capitalization—are beginning to appear more reasonably valued, according to Jefferies, the American investment bank, on July 14, 2026. Foreign investors have simultaneously resumed purchases in this segment of the Indian market. This convergence of signals is fueling expectations for a potential rebound in Indian large-cap stocks.

14 July 2026 at 03:31

Business

Chipotle Opens First Mexican Restaurant in Nuevo León State

Chipotle Mexican Grill, an American chain specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine, opens its first restaurant in Mexico during the week of July 14, 2026, in Nuevo León (northeast of the country), according to the BBC. The chain is partnering with Alsea S.A.B. de C.V., a major Mexican operator of international franchises. The move echoes two difficult precedents: Taco Bell left Mexico in 2010 without establishing a customer base there, and Domino's Pizza closed its Italian restaurants in 2022. On social media, the announcement prompted comparisons with "Pizza Hut opening in Naples".

14 July 2026 at 03:28

Business

Oil Tankers: Iran War Sparks Record Order Surge Since 2008

Since Iran's war began in February 2026, global shipyards have logged over 600 tanker orders—a level last seen only during the 2000s boom preceding the 2008 financial crisis. The Strait of Hormuz closure temporarily immobilized 9% of the world's supertanker fleet, pushing VLCC charter rates to $424,000 per day. Total ordered capacity reaches 72 million deadweight tons (DWT), exceeding the 2008 record by 50%. Greece accounts for 60% of global orders by value; Chinese yards are building 82%.

14 July 2026 at 02:58

Business

Q2 2026 results: five major US banks report in one week, Citi top analyst pick

The week of July 13, 2026 marks the start of major US bank earnings season: JPMorgan, Citi, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs will report second quarter results within hours of each other. Mike Mayo, head of large-cap US bank research at Wells Fargo Securities, designates Citi as his top pick among these institutions, according to Bloomberg. He anticipates a 15-20% year-over-year rise in sector profits, driven by Wall Street trading revenues and commercial loan growth.

14 July 2026 at 01:11

Business

Oncoclinicas do Brasil prepares out-of-court debt restructuring

Brazil's oncology services group Oncoclinicas do Brasil Servicos Medicos SA is preparing to file for an out-of-court debt restructuring, potentially as early as Monday evening, July 13, 2026, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. The company and its creditors have not yet reached an agreement on a common restructuring plan. Oncoclinicas is seeking a nominal haircut on its debt without converting it into equity, thereby preserving its current shareholding structure.

14 July 2026 at 01:01

Business

India: Large-cap stocks expected to rebound as foreign funds return

Indian large-cap stocks are expected to catch up with their underperformance versus small-cap stocks, according to strategists from Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, and Société Générale. Three drivers fuel this outlook: foreign investor returns, improving earnings prospects, and attractive valuations. Foreign funds have been net buyers of Indian stocks for four consecutive weeks as of July 13, 2026. During the previous correction phase, these same investors were the primary sellers, disproportionately weighing on large-caps.

14 July 2026 at 00:54

Business

Trump imposes Iranian blockade in Strait of Hormuz and 20% fee on oil transit

On July 13, 2026, President Trump reimposed a blockade on Iranian ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz—the world's most critical oil passage—and imposed a 20% fee on all other cargo moving through the chokepoint, totaling roughly $30 million per supertanker. Oil prices jumped over 9% in a single trading session, the largest one-day gain since April 2026. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude reached approximately $79 per barrel, while Brent closed above $83 per barrel. The measures coincide with a third consecutive night of U.S. military strikes against Iran.

14 July 2026 at 00:27

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