“SNB has increased readiness to intervene in forex market”: SNB Schlegel hints at near-term intervention
Swiss National Bank (SNB) Chairman Martin Schlegel said during the European trading session on Wednesday that the central bank has increased its readiness to intervene in the Forex market. Schlegel delivered similar comments on Tuesday, saying, “SNB raises readiness to intervene against Swiss Franc’s (CHF) appreciation.”
Additional remarks
Global economic growth may temporarily somewhat slow, uncertainty clearly higher.
Hotel industry remains price competitive despite rise in Swiss Franc.
Mid-term inflation pressure has hardly changed in Switzerland.
Market reaction
The Swiss Franc appears not to have reacted to SNB Schlegel's comments. The reasoning could be that they are similar to what he said on Tuesday. As of writing, USD/CHF trades 0.25% higher to near 0.7895 due to a strengthening US Dollar (USD).
SNB FAQs
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is the country’s central bank. As an independent central bank, its mandate is to ensure price stability in the medium and long term. To ensure price stability, the SNB aims to maintain appropriate monetary conditions, which are determined by the interest rate level and exchange rates. For the SNB, price stability means a rise in the Swiss Consumer Price Index (CPI) of less than 2% per year.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) Governing Board decides the appropriate level of its policy rate according to its price stability objective. When inflation is above target or forecasted to be above target in the foreseeable future, the bank will attempt to tame excessive price growth by raising its policy rate. Higher interest rates are generally positive for the Swiss Franc (CHF) as they lead to higher yields, making the country a more attractive place for investors. On the contrary, lower interest rates tend to weaken CHF.
Yes. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has regularly intervened in the foreign exchange market in order to avoid the Swiss Franc (CHF) appreciating too much against other currencies. A strong CHF hurts the competitiveness of the country’s powerful export sector. Between 2011 and 2015, the SNB implemented a peg to the Euro to limit the CHF advance against it. The bank intervenes in the market using its hefty foreign exchange reserves, usually by buying foreign currencies such as the US Dollar or the Euro. During episodes of high inflation, particularly due to energy, the SNB refrains from intervening markets as a strong CHF makes energy imports cheaper, cushioning the price shock for Swiss households and businesses.
The SNB meets once a quarter – in March, June, September and December – to conduct its monetary policy assessment. Each of these assessments results in a monetary policy decision and the publication of a medium-term inflation forecast.
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