
The Swiss View – Stay Calm and Curious
Switzerland's triumphant quarter-final in the European soccer championship contrasts sharply with global turmoil in the first half of the year. Persistent wars in Ukraine and Gaza, stock market highs, and a resurgent US dollar mark a landscape of economic and political upheaval. The rise of conservative parties in Europe, spurred by elections, signals potential long-term shifts, while Japan's NIKKEI 225 outperforms amid a weakening yen. Financial markets reflect a troubling divergence, with large companies thriving as smaller ones falter, and high debt levels in Europe and the US stoke investor anxiety. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies surge with Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, and precious metals experience volatility, setting the stage for a complex and uncertain remainder of the year.