Swiss National Bank sticks with zero interest rate

BY Reuters | ECONOMIC | 03:30 AM EST

By John Revill

BERN, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank left its policy interest rate unchanged on Thursday as the central bank considered the impact of the recent agreement to reduce U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods, as well as persistently low inflation.

The SNB kept its interest rate at 0%, the lowest among major central banks, for the second consecutive policy meeting, a decision expected by markets and analysts polled by Reuters. (Reporting by John Revill Editing by Dave Graham)

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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