Sika: In the 2011 business year, Sika lifted sales by 15.5% in local currencies. This figure includes an acquisition effect of 3.8%. After conversion into Swiss francs, sales therefore rose 3.1% year-on-year to CHF 4.55 billion. Sika has expanded in all regions and witnessed strong growth in the emerging markets of Asia/Pacific and Latin America. Sika also increased sales in the Region North America, winning additional shares in a fiercely fought market. Link: Click Here

Swatch Group exceeds the 7 billion sales milestone for the first time. December 2011 strongest month in turnover in the history of the Group. In 2011, despite a difficult economic environment, the Swatch Group remained on record course. The Group reached the seven billion milestone for the first time, and generated gross sales of CHF 7 143 million, an increase of +21.7% at constant rates in comparison to 2010. The ongoing overvaluation of the Swiss Franc, particularly against the US Dollar and the Euro, had a negative impact of CHF 696 million or -10.8% on Group sales. Link: Click Here

Conzzeta Group's Glass Processing Systems business unit, Bystronic glass, is merging its two production sites in Germany and streamlining its activities. The realignment is aimed at strengthening the core competences in the architectural glass (insulating glass, laminated glass and handling equipment) and automotive glass segments. Link: Click Here

Myriad Group AG (SIX: MYRN), the company powering billions of rich mobile social and web experiences on any connected device, today announced it will deliver its industry-leading Java™ technology for use in Comcast’s tru2way set-top software platform to power the Xfinity TV service. Link: Click Here


Economy
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Sarasin Privat Banker comments on meeting with Mr. Hildebrand on August 15th. Todays resignation must certainly also been seen in light of the following rather unfavourable evidence against Mr Hildebrand. The comment below is from the Bank Sarasin 'client contact report' dated August 15th 2011 and can be read as: Hildebrand wants me to consider increasing his USD-exposure. Link: Click Here

Swiss National Bank Chairman, Philipp Hildebrand, resigns with immediate effect. Effective immediately, Philipp Hildebrand is resigning from his office as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank. Link: Click Here

Statement of Kashya Hildebrand to the resignation of her husband Philipp Hildebrand as Chairman of the Swiss National Bank. I would like to apologize publicly and unreservedly to the Swiss People, the Swiss National Bank and most of all to my husband for my error in judgement regarding the foreign exchange transaction I made on August 15th 2011. I failed my husband by not considering the perception of a "conflict of interest" created by my purchase of dollars. Link: Click Here

China: Monetary conditions improved towards year-end on a rise in deposits and a pickup in new loans. The December broad money and credit data have surprised to the upside. M2 growth rebounded sharply to 13.6% y/y (BarCap: 12.3%, Bloomberg: 12.6%) after declining for five consecutive months (November: 12.7%). A record-high fiscal transfer (CNY1.23trn) and more deposits returning to the banks at year-end have injected liquidity to the banking system, allowing for stronger-than-expected bank lending (CNY640bn vs consensus of less than CNY600bn), and boosting M2 growth. Link: Click Here