FYI - MONETARY POLICY USING NEGATIVE INTEREST RATES: A STATUS REPORT - THOMAS JORDAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE SWISS NATIONAL BANK
Monetary policy using negative interest rates: a status report
In the current environment, negative interest is necessary and appropriate for Switzerland
Without negative interest, the Swiss franc would rise sharply, unemployment would have risen, and growth would have collapsed
SNB has intervened in the foreign exchange market as necessary since January 2015
Weak inflation and slow economic recovery reason for low interest rates
Historically, Switzerland has always had lower interest rates than the euro area
SNB's negative interest policy has partially restored the interest rate differential to the euro area
Negative interest policy has made the Swiss franc less attractive as an investment currency
Low interest rate environment also presents several challenges for monetary policy