Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Federal Statistical Office report released on Thursday showed that Switzerland’s trade balance fell more-than-expected in December. Swiss Trade Balance fell to a seasonally adjusted 2.716B, from 3.500B in the preceding month whose figure was revised down from 3.636B. Data missed expectations for a fall to 2.810B.
Switzerland’s trade surplus in Q4 2016 was CHF 8.9 billion versus 10.1 billion in the third quarter. The total trade surplus for 2016 rose to a new record of CHF 37.5 billion from CHF 36.5 billion in 2015.
Details of the report showed both exports and imports grew by a working-day-adjusted 6.1 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively in December from a year ago. In real terms, exports climbed 1.3 percent monthly in December, while imports dropped by 3.1 percent. In 2016, exports fell 0.8 percent in real terms, while imports gained by 1.2 percent.
Seperate data released on Wednesday showed Switzerland's ZEW survey of economic expectations index advanced to a level of 18.5 in January, following a reading of 12.9 in the previous month. Also, the nation's UBS consumption indicator rose to a level of 1.50 in December, compared to a reading of 1.45 in the previous month.
