Business outlook for the week ahead

The opening of the Geneva motor show and financial results from the engineering group, Von Roll, top the business agenda this week. Other highlights include a meeting of the WTO's General Council and the publication of new consumer price statistics.

The opening of the Geneva motor show (pictured) and financial results from the engineering group, Von Roll, are at the top of the business agenda this week.

Von Roll releases its annual figures on Tuesday, and is also expected to unveil details of its plans to restructure the company in a bid to boost profitability.

The automobile industry comes to Geneva this week as as the city hosts its annual international car show from Wednesday. It runs for nearly two weeks, until March 12th. The event is one of the most important on the industry’s calender and gives manufacturers the chance to showcast their new vehicles and accessories.

Also in Geneva this week, there’s an informal meeting of the World Trade Organisation’s General Council. Member states are expected to discuss a way forward after the collapse of global trade talks in Seattle last December. Developing nations are refusing to sign an agreement on trade liberalisation because they say it is weighted too heavily in the favour of richer countries.

The latest consumer price index is also due to be published by the Federal Statistics Office this week. It was running at 1.6 per cent last month but most analysts expect a slight rise as the economic recovery accelerates and inflationary pressures continue to grow.

From staff and wire reports