Swiss National Bank Portfolio holdings

The Swiss National Bank (SNB), founded in 1907 and headquartered in Zurich with an office in Bern, is Switzerland’s central bank, responsible for conducting monetary policy, issuing the Swiss franc, and ensuring price stability, while uniquely managing a massive investment portfolio. Unlike most central banks, the SNB is a joint-stock company with shares traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange, owned roughly 55% by public entities like cantons and 45% by private investors, yet it operates independently under federal oversight. It holds over $800 billion in foreign currency reserves as of late 2024—invested in global equities, bonds, and gold—to manage the franc’s value, famously intervening in markets to prevent excessive appreciation, as seen with the 2015 abandonment of the euro peg. Led by Chairman Thomas Jordan until his planned exit in September 2024, the SNB balances its dual role as a monetary authority and a significant global investor, influencing both Swiss and international financial stability.