ZURICH. The Baar group has bought a Dubai maker of bitumen waterproofing membranes used on large Gulf projects. No price was disclosed. The figures arrive at a delicate moment for policymakers weighing a strong franc against a cooling global economy.
The figures, published on Monday, beat the consensus forecast by a narrow margin. Economists cautioned that one quarter does not make a trend, but the direction is no longer in doubt.
Industry associations welcomed the data and immediately asked for more. Their wish list is familiar: less regulation, faster permits and relief on energy costs.
Small and medium-sized firms tell a more mixed story than the headline numbers. Order books are full for some, thin for others, and the gap is widening.
Consumers, meanwhile, are spending cautiously. Savings rates remain high by European standards, a habit that predates the current uncertainty.
The figures, published on Monday, beat the consensus forecast by a narrow margin. Economists cautioned that one quarter does not make a trend, but the direction is no longer in doubt.