Swiss central bank readies for FX intervention if safe haven franc strengthens

The Swiss National Bank is prepared to counter any fresh upward pressure on the Swiss franc, having increased its willingness to intervene in FX markets since the Iran war. The central bank left its main policy rate unchanged on Thursday. The SNB said Switzerland's economic activity has remained resilient since the conflict began, against a tricky macro backdrop of inflationary pressures, geopolitical tensions and U.S. tariff uncertainty. The Swiss National Bank said on Thursday it is ready to intervene in foreign exchange markets if a rebound in demand for the safe-haven franc drives the currency higher. It came as the central bank left its main policy rate unchanged at 0%, in a move widely expected by markets, keeping borrowing costs well below those seen in other major economies. In a statement, Martin Schlegel, chairman of the SNB's Governing Board, said the outbreak of the Middle...