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Foreign unemployment fall cuts jobless rate Published on: 10 Apr 2015 09:23 CET Facebook Twitter Google+ reddit Switzerland's official jobless rate fell in March to 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent in the previous month, driven by a drop in foreign unemployment, according to government figures released on Friday. The decline marks the first time since June 2014 that the rate has fallen in a further indication that the Swiss economy is so far weathering the rise in the value of the franc, which forecasters have said will cut growth this year. The percentage of foreigners registered as out of work tumbled to 6.7 percent from seven percent, while the rate for Swiss citizens remained unchanged at 2.3 percent, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) said in its monthly report. The number of unemployed registered in regional job placement offices in March dipped by 4,813 from the previous month to 145,108, Seco said. But the jobless rate last month remained above the 3.3 percent level in March 2014. The rate declined or remained the same in all 26 cantons with the canton of Valais recording the biggest fall, from to 4.6 percent from 5.4 percent. Neuchâtel registered the highest rate (5.7 percent, down from 5.8 percent), just ahead of Geneva (5.6 percent, unchanged). Obwalden had the lowest rate at one percent, down from 1.1 percent. Unemployment in Zurich, Switzerland's largest job market, remained unchanged at 3.6 percent. The impact of the strong franc may not have yet affected the Swiss job market but observers believe that unless the currency weakens, jobs cuts can be expected. In January, the Swiss National Bank abandoned a policy of maintaining a euro floor of 1.20 francs and foreign exchange traders immediately bid up the value of the franc. On Friday, with uncertainty about Greece's finances lingering, the euro was trading at around 1.04 francs, making life difficult for Swiss exporters selling products into the eurozone, the biggest ma

The article describes the situation for Azerbaijan, where its currency, manats, have depreciated against the American dollar greatly. The banks have imposed limits to consumption of foreign, in order to limit the imports.

As prices for commodities have decreased, the value of the Canadian dollar has decreased as well. Two years ago the Canadian dollar was worth 93 American cents, yesterday to was worth only 69 American cents. This depreciation in value is because the Canadian economy is heavily dependent on oil and other resources and it has had many impacts on Canadians. Imports, like fresh American vegtables, are now more costly for Canadians. Currently, a single head of broccoli in Canada sells for around $4. Last winters, Canadians could buy 2 for only $1.50. However, in many ways a weaker currency is helpful to the Canadian economy. The US is overwhelmingly the largest market for Canadian exports, which are now less expensive across the border because of the currency's fall. In addition, almost all commodity exports are priced in American dollars so foreign exchange gains have helped cushion some of the blow to Canadian oil producers and mining companies.

Azerbaijan has moved to a floating exchange rate, after 2015 saw the country devaluate its currency twice. Also deals with problems of balance of payments and foreign currency flows.

The Nigerian government must diversify the economy if the country is to survive falling global oil prices, said World Bank VP and Treasurer, Arunma Otteh. She said that Nigeria ranks 152 out of 188 in the HDI, and ranks below the average for sub-saharan Africa. Life expectancy in Nigeria is 53 years, 8 years lower than Ghana and 21 years lower than Brazil. Nigeria also ranked 136 out of 168 most corrupt countries in Transparency International's 2015 report. This affects the flow of FDI to the country. Nigeria's rapid GDP growth over the past decade hasn't translated to strong human development or competitiveness. Nigeria can no longer only depend on oil, which not sells for as low as $26/barrel which accounts for 95% of the country's foreign exchange.

This article highlights how the GDP is not the only factor in measuring the development of a nation, but how corruption and business confidence can play a role. This is seen by the decreasing oil prices, which has affected the Nigerian economy greatly.

This article discusses the sugar market in the U.S. On average, U.S. consumers pay twice as much for refined sugar as the rest of the world. This is largely due to sugar policies in the United States. In America, the federal government offers loans to sugar cane and beet processors who are to pay sugar growers a minimum price set by the USDA. The idea is that processors will obtain a market price for their sugar that is sufficient to pay back the loans. However, the loans are "non-recourse," meaning that if the market price of sugar declines, processors can forfeit to the USDA the sugar they put up as collateral. In order to prevent sugar processors from offloading sugar onto the USDA and to protect processors from lower-cost foreign competition, the federal government has imposed a two tier system of tariff rate quotas. It also restricts the total amount of sugar that domestic processors can sell by setting market allotments which are designed to drive up the price by creating artificial scarcity.

China is known for being a very populous state and the leading commodity producer, as a matter of fact American trade with China is considered one of the largest trading markets. So it would be expected that China's depreciation is affecting so many countries. The Mexican peso dropped by 1.1%, and the Colombian peso by 1.3% . This means their the amount of Chinese money that could be exchanged with just one of that country's peso has decreased. Economists are blaming it on falling oil prices and weak economic data. This was foreseen depreciation was foreseen as oil demand was already decreasing and investments into China were low so as preparation Colombia has raised its lending rate. This could work and help combat the inflation that has been caused because it would influence trade and investments. This is all in hopes that the exchange rate will rise again.

The Argentinian peso had been under strict currency controls for the past four years under former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.The exchange rate had been going for 9 pesos per US dollar and is not going for 14 pesos per US dollar which was previously only seen in the black market. Former president Kirchner had put the controls in place in attempt to control Argentina's inflation. The new government are hoping to improve exports of agricultural commodities.

- In this article, Nomura has seen an 8% GDP growth for the fiscal year. Chief economist in India states that some factors that caused the growth include "policy efforts from both the RBI and government support the projections for higher growth." Foreign investors continue to rise on the stock market which is evidence of the rise in investors participating in the market.

Amid growing domestic issues, such as corruption and political instability, Mozambique continues to suffer from a lack of foreign direct investment and economic growth despite promising offshore oil deposits. Highlights domestic factors that influence economic growth and development.

Turkey has received an urban explosion that developed it's nations from a musty barren land to a trans-global hub. The technology has advanced, transportation, the environment is clearer as pollution levels have gone down. This was not something done overnight, Turkey had started implementing policies since the 1980s such as gecekondu. Today cities can produce their own revenues, have elected officials, and make their own deals with foreign nations. Yes, the standard of living and income has increased but there are disadvantages with this in the sense that the roads are congested. Less public transportation use. They have also been privatizing public areas which most citizens disagree was they areas are symbolic.