Swiss stocks: Factors to be on the lookout for on February 4,

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• Swiss stocks: Factors to be on the lookout for on February 4,

  The following are the major factors that may impact Swiss stocks on Wednesday. U.S. legislators claim that nearly 900 Nazi-linked accounts were discovered by Credit Suisse. The bank has been acquired by UBS. Nestle Financial Times reported that Nestle's new CEO is planning a major overhaul to refocus its'sprawling multi-national around four product categories. COMPANY STATEMENTS Set New Ambitions for 2028 with 18% Return on Cet1 Capital and 67% Cost/Income Ratio For Group Novartis Q4 results are due. ANALYSTS VIEWS Morgan Stanley lowers the target price of GIVAUDAN SA to CHF 3000, down from CHF 3220 Barclays reduces the target price from CHF 262 to?CHF 245, reducing it from Overweight. ECONOMY SNB US Dollar auction due at 0900 GMT. Reporting by Zurich and Gdansk Newsrooms

• MISC will supply liquefied CO2 carrier to Northern Lights CCS Project

  The Malaysian shipper announced on Wednesday that it and its Japanese partner had secured a 10-year charter agreement with Norway's Northern Lights joint venture to operate a new liquefied carbon dioxide carrier. The carrier will run on both LNG and conventional marine diesel. MISC announced this in a press release. The company said that it will transport liquefied carbon dioxide from industrial capture sites to permanent offshore storage in Norway. MISC announced that a second time-charter for a new-build CO2 liquefied carrier will be awarded by April. The new 'carriers' are expected to arrive between the second and first halves of 2028. The Northern Lights Carbon?Capture and Storage (CCS) Project is a joint venture between Equinor TotalEnergies Shell. It aims to commercialise CCS to reduce CO2 emission, particularly for sectors which rely on fossil fuels input and are difficult to decarbonise. The first phase of the project began operations in August of last year.

• Transport workers in Germany walk off the job by the tens of thousands

  Commuters in Germany were faced with freezing temperatures and empty platforms as tens of thousands of public transport workers walked out on the job during a strike called Verdi. This resulted in the suspension of bus and tram services across most German cities. Verdi, the union that represents almost 100,000 transport workers, called for a strike last week after discussions with employers at municipal and state levels over?working conditions' stalled. Even as cities struggle with budget restrictions, the union wants shorter shifts and longer rest periods. In all but one of Germany’s 16 federal states (including Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen), the walkout affects about 150 municipal transport companies. The strike began on time, according to Serat Canyurt. He is the chief negotiator at Verdi. In chilly temperatures, commuters seek alternative transportation. Union officials have said that services in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg will be halted for the whole day. The temperatures fell below zero across the country, making it more difficult for commuters to find alternative transport. Deutsche Bahn, however, said that its S-Bahn urban trains, which run in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, as well as long-distance service, will continue to operate as usual on Monday, as Verdi was not present. The talks between Verdi and employer associations were tense. Union leaders accused?municipalities that they wanted to reduce benefits and extend shifts. Verdi negotiators in Berlin said that operators wanted workers who gave up flexible hours and sick pay to fund "improvements" themselves. The next round is scheduled for 9 February. The union leaders warned of further industrial action if the employers did not make significant concessions. (Reporting and editing by FriederikeHeine and BernadetteBaum)

• The cable car for the Winter Olympics in Cortina will not be ready by the start date, a letter shows

  The cable car that was supposed to transport spectators to the Olympic Alpine Skiing events for women in Cortina won't be ready on time. This prompted Games organisers to?request school closures in order to relieve the pressure placed on the Dolomite resort transportation system. The Apollonio - Socrepes lift has been a controversial piece of Olympic infrastructure in the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026, which will be co-hosted from February 6-22 by Cortina and Italy's capital. The system was supposed to transport spectators directly from the centre of the town to the slopes. However, the work began late and residents expressed safety concerns over its location, which is prone to landslides. Simico, the agency that is in charge of Olympic infrastructure and has been tasked with overseeing the construction of the project, which remains unfinished one week before the Games begin, stated on Friday that the work was proceeding according to schedule. In a letter to the top representative of the Belluno Province, Chief Games Operation Officer Andrea Francisi stated that Simico had informed the organizers the previous day the gondola would not be delivered in the timeframe planned. Simico released a statement Saturday stating that the work on the cable cars was still ongoing and safety checks for the final commissioning would be carried out in the next week. Simico said that logistical matters such as the closure of schools were not within its mandate. The?Milano Cortina organizing committee declined to make any comment. MOBILITY - ESSENTIAL Element Francisi, in a letter that has never been reported before, described the lift as a key element of Cortina's Olympic mobility plan, where it will host events such as curling, bobsleigh and skeleton. The letter stated that "the loss of this critical infrastructure just before the start of Olympic operations creates significant organizational challenges with major impacts on flow, security, and the ability of the system in general to absorb alternative mobility requirements." Organisers asked the local authorities in Cortina to close their schools on?February 10, February 12 and, if possible, on February 11 to relieve pressure on Cortina's transport system during crucial days for Olympic operations. CRITICAL DAYS Closed schools on critical days to maintain order and ensure the transport network can function was described as "indispensible" by some. The number of tickets available for Cortina events has been capped pending clarification on whether the cable cars will be ready for the Games. A spokesperson from the Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee said on Friday that they had released so far a number tickets in accordance with the 'capacity guaranteed by the road transport. Cortina, located in the Dolomites and one of Italy's most popular winter resorts, hosted the 1956?Games. However, it lacks a rail station, and the main road to the town is often slow during peak hours. The main mode of transport in a town with only 5,500 permanent residents is still the car. Special measures will be taken to reduce congestion during the Olympics. Permits will only be issued to vehicles that are used by local residents, people who own second homes and those providing services for the Games. The Olympic venues will require fans to park their cars in designated areas, and then take shuttle buses. (Reporting and editing by Giselda Vangnoni, Keith Weir and Elvira Pollina)

• The Olympics-Cortina Cable Car will not be ready for the Winter Games, a letter shows

  The cable car that was supposed to transport spectators to Cortina's women's Olympic Alpine skiing event will not be completed in time. Games organizers have requested school closures in order to ease pressure on the Dolomite Resort's transportation system. The 'Apollonio Socrepes Lift' is one of the most controversial pieces of Olympic infrastructure that will be used for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026, which will be co-hosted from February 6-22 by Cortina and Italy's capital. The system was supposed to transport spectators directly from the centre of the town to the slopes. However, the work started behind schedule and residents expressed safety concerns over its location, which is prone to landslides. Simico, a state-backed agency responsible for the Olympics infrastructure, stated on Friday that despite mounting doubts about the project which is still unfinished one week before the opening of the Games, work was proceeding according to plan and would continue on the weekend. In a letter to the top representative of the Belluno Province, Andrea Francisi, Chief Games Operation Officer said: "Simico had informed the organizers the day before that the gondola would not be delivered in the time frame planned." Simico had no immediate comment. Simico announced on Friday that the technical work would be completed in the next week and safety checks would follow. The Milano Cortina organizing committee declined to make any comment. MOBILITY - ESSENTIAL Element Francisi, in a letter that has never been reported, described the lifts as an important element of Cortina's Olympic mobility plan, where it will host events such as curling, bobsleigh and luge. The letter stated that "the loss of this critical infrastructure just before the start of Olympic Operations creates significant challenges for the organisation, with major implications on flow management, security, and the overall system's ability to absorb the alternate mobility required." Organisers asked the local authorities in Cortina to close their schools on February 10, 12 and, if possible, February 11 to relieve pressure on Cortina's transport system during these critical days. CRITICAL DAYS The closing of schools during the most crucial days has been described as "indispensable". This is to ensure order and the transportation network can function. The Games' organisers have limited the number of tickets available for events in Cortina until it is clear whether the cable cars will be ready in time for the Games. The spokesperson of the Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee said on Friday that they had released tickets according to the capacity guaranteed by the road transport. Cortina, located in the Dolomites and one of Italy's most popular winter resorts, hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics. However, it lacks a rail station, and the main road to the town is often slow during peak hours. The main mode of transport in a town with only 5,500 permanent inhabitants is still the car. Special measures will be taken to reduce congestion during the Olympics. Permits will only be issued to vehicles that are used by local residents, people who own second homes and those providing services for the Games. The Olympic venues will require fans to park their cars in designated areas, and then take shuttle buses. (Reporting and editing by Giselda Vangnoni, Keith Weir, and Elvira Pollina)

• Olympics-Controversial Cortina cable car still unfinished a week before Winter Games start

  There are growing doubts about whether Cortina’s cable car is ready for the women’s Olympic alpine ski events at the Dolomites Resort. The infrastructure has not been completed a week before Games begin. The Apollonio Socrepes Gondola is one the most controversial projects for the Winter Olympics in Cortina, and Milan from 6-22 February. The construction of the cable car that will take tourists from the centre to the slopes has been delayed. Some residents are concerned about safety, as the project is taking place in an area prone to landslides. Two people familiar with the situation said that the 50 cabins had not been installed yet and the safety tests - which were originally scheduled to take place the last week before the Games began - have still to be performed. Simico, a state-backed agency responsible for the project, has repeatedly stated that the cable car will be delivered on schedule. It said in a Friday statement that the work was proceeding according to plan. The agency stated that "the pulling of cable is complete and the splicing will begin as soon as Saturday." They added that the alignment of rollers at three stations and 10 pylons would be checked over the weekend. The mechanical and hydraulic work is expected to be finished early next week. After that, the technical safety inspections will begin. Simico?added that the lift will be ready once these works are completed. The first race is scheduled for the 9th of February at the Tofane Alpine skiing centre in Cortina. One of those involved said that if it wasn't finished by then, opening the cable car would be delayed by a few more days. The Games organizers have limited the number of tickets available due to uncertainty about whether the cable cars will be ready for the Games. A spokesperson for the Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee stated that they had?released so far a number tickets in accordance with the capacity guaranteed through road transport. Cortina, located in the Dolomites in northern Italy, is one of the most popular winter resorts in Italy. It hosted the 1956 Olympic Games, but the town has no railway station, and the main road can be slow during peak hours. Cortina is also hosting curling as well as bobsleighs, luges and skeleton events. (Reporting and editing by Giselda Vangnoni, Christian Radnedge and Sara Rossi)

• President says that Panama ports will continue to operate without interruption after the CK Hutchison decision

  Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino stated?on Friday? that ports will continue to operate in the 'country despite a?Supreme Court ruling which annulled key port contracts by a Hong Kong-based subsidiary, CK Hutchison. The future of some key ports near the Panama Canal is still unclear after the ruling made on Thursday. Mulino stated that APM Terminals Panama (a Maersk subsidiary) has expressed a willingness to temporarily takeover the operation of the Balboa & Cristobal terminals, after a period of transition during which the current operator will remain. He stated that he has had discussions with multiple companies. Mulino stated during a recent press conference that he instructed the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) to immediately meet with the Panama Ports Company in order to coordinate 'next steps. Mulino stated that there would be no?layoffs. The decision comes amid an increasing U.S.-China competition over global trade routes and is seen as "a victory for Washington" where President Donald Trump has been pushing to 'curb Chinese influence on the Panama Canal which carries 5% of all global maritime trade. Reporting by Elida Moreno and Aida Pélaez-Fernandez, Editing by Sarah Morland

• Swiss stocks: Factors to be on the lookout for January 30

  Here are the key factors that could affect Swiss stocks on Friday: NESTLE Foodwatch, a consumer rights campaign group, filed a criminal complaint on Thursday in Paris in behalf of eight families who claim their babies fell ill after eating contaminated infants formula. This comes after companies like Nestle recalled?batches? of infant formula over the last month due to 'concerns? about contamination. SWATCH Date possible for the release of FY Key figures. BUSINESS STATEMENTS * Dottikon Es claims that Buechiglas has a strategic stake Dottikon Es associated SYSTAG ANALYSTS VIEWS FLUGHAFEN ZUERICH AG: Jefferies cuts the target price from CHF 246 to CHF 239. GIVAUDAN SA : Jefferies reduces target price from CHF 3800 to?CHF 3500 GIVAUDAN SA: JP Morgan reduces target price to CHF 3600 from CHF 4000 ECONOMY Swiss January KOF indicator due at 0800 GMT. Seen at 103.0. Swiss Offical Reserves Assets due at 0800 GMT. Reporting by Zurich and Gdansk Newsrooms

• Families of victims in Spain demand truth about train crash

  On Thursday, some relatives of the 45 victims in Spain's rail accident vowed to investigate the cause of the collision between the two high-speed trains. They made their promise while survivors were still wearing bandages and slings during a funeral service. Only the truth can help us heal this injury. Liliana Saenz - who lost her mom - spoke at the Huelva service. "We will fight to ensure that there is never another train." The King and Queen Letizia were present. Spain is still trying to deal with the tragedy that occurred in January 2018 near the village Adamuz, in southern Spain. The accident caused the highest number of deaths in European history from a train crash. Since the crash in Spain and other incidents in the same week, such as the death of the train driver in Catalonia, the government has been scrutinized to determine if it has invested enough in the maintenance of the country's renowned railway system. The Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and the Transport Minister Oscar Puente did not attend. Authorities said that a fracture in the rail was evident before one of the trains heading for Madrid from Malaga derailled and then?hit a second train in the opposite direction coming in 20 seconds later. Puente said that the gap between trains could have been as little as nine seconds. "We are the 45 families that would trade the entire 'gold' in the world (which is now worthless) for the chance to advance the clock by just 20 seconds," Saenz told hundreds of relatives and survivors. She was flanked with her brother. (Reporting and writing by Miguel Pereira, Guillermo Martinez, Lisa Shumaker; editing by Lisa Shumaker).

• Spain's government defends rail investment record after deadly crashes

  Spain's Transport Minister said Thursday that his government has increased spending on?the rail network after years underinvestment. He was being grilled by senators about a series of recent train accidents. One of them killed dozens. A high-speed train crash on January 18 in southern Spain left 45 dead, while a derailment in Catalonia two days later killed a driver. This led to a public and political scrutiny of rail spending, safety and maintenance. Oscar Puente was booed by opposition legislators shouting "resign", when he walked up to podium. He said that maintenance spending per km had increased 66% since 2017 and is now at or above European?average. He said that France spends a little more while Italy spends a little less. Data from the European Commission and industry experts questioned whether investment in maintenance has kept up with Spain's growing rail network and increasing passenger numbers. Puente disagreed. He said that Spain has invested about 30 billion euro ($36 billion) less between 2010 and 2018, than it would have had the spending levels pre-financial crises been maintained. The conservative People's Party was in power between 2011 and 2018, cutting spending across the board amid a push by the EU for austerity, while Spain suffered a severe debt crisis after a housing bubble burst. The total annual rail investment?has increased to approximately 5 billion euros ($6billion) by 2025, from around 1.7 billion euro in 2017, according to Puente of the ruling Socialist Party.

• CMA CGM places some ships in safe areas due to extreme weather

  CMA CGM, a French shipping and transportation company, said on Thursday that it would take'measures' to place some of its vessels in safe areas due to the harsh weather conditions in certain parts of Atlantic. It said that "severe weather conditions" were impacting navigation conditions in the Atlantic along the French, Spanish, and Moroccan coasts. The event was of exceptional intensity and length, especially in the Bay o f?Biscay. CMA-CGM Group decided as a precaution to put vessels transiting this area in safe places to ensure crew and cargo safety. The measure is applicable to all areas from southern Morocco up to the entrance of the English Channel. Holding positions are notably located in Gibraltar and the Seine Bay. Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and other container shipping companies had warned earlier this week that storms and snow would disrupt cargo flows in Europe. (Reporting and editing by Sudip K. Kar-Gupta; Reporting by Gus Trompiz)

• Storm Kristin kills three in Portugal and barrels into Spain

  Storm Kristin, which swept through central and northern Portugal on Wednesday and knocked down trees, damaged houses, and disrupted rail and road traffic, killed three people. According to emergency services, a person was killed when a fallen tree hit their vehicle in Vila Franca De Xira on the outskirts Lisbon. According to the local council, two more people were killed in central district of?Leiria – one of the worst affected areas. In a country with nearly 11 million inhabitants, civil protection authorities reported more than 3,000 weather related incidents. These were triggered by gusts of wind up to 150 km/hr (93 mph), heavy rainfall and snowfall. Grid operator E-Redes reported that technical teams were working to restore power to about half a million customers by the afternoon, while as many as 855 000 had been without electricity earlier. After passing through Portugal, it moved eastward into Spain. The country is still recovering after a previous storm, Storm Joseph. On Tuesday, strong winds brought down a palm in Torremolinos. A woman was killed. Snowfall in Spain affected more than 160 roads early Wednesday morning. This included 27 of the main highways, including the A-6 connecting Madrid to the northwest. In central Madrid, snow also covered the rooftops but did not cause any major disruptions. AEMET, Spain's weather agency, warned of very strong winds in large parts of the country, some reaching hurricane-force gusts. The authorities issued a "red alert" in certain parts of the southern Almeria Province due to the intensity and speed of the wind. In some places, local authorities have closed parks and suspended outdoor sports and educational programs.