The following year they handled US$400 billion less which has been attributed to both a bear market and stricter regulations on Swiss banking.

But Swiss banking is under siege from global competition, as are banks across Europe.

It raised the possibility of "a broad and more rapid restructuring of Swiss banking," Moody's said.

Swiss banking, long an unchanging symbol of discreet prosperity, is suddenly mired in difficulties.

They seem likely to become bogged down in the intricacies of Swiss banking and Egyptian commerce.

His secret seems to be not so much negotiating brilliance as putting a human face on Swiss banking.

They are the two giants of Swiss banking and among the most powerful in the world.

They are the private chapels of Swiss banking, places where men can worship or confess their sins in absolute secrecy.

March had been given a short briefing on the customs and practices of Swiss banking the afternoon he left Berlin.

That was the message today, as two of the most venerable names in Swiss banking said they would merge.