Switzerland makes second interest rate cut as major economies diverge on monetary policy easing

The Swiss National Bank on Thursday trimmed its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, continuing cuts at a time when sentiment over monetary policy easing remains mixed among major economies.

Two thirds of economists polled by Reuters had anticipated the SNB would decide in favor of a 25-basis-point-cut to 1.25%.

The Swiss franc weakened in the wake of the announcement, with the Euro gaining 0.3% and the U.S. dollar up 0.5% against the Swiss currency at 8:55 a.m. London time.

Following the Thursday decision, the Swiss central bank pegged its conditional forecast for inflation at 1.3% for 2024, 1.1% for 2025 and 1.0% for 2026. The figures assumes a SNB interest rate of 1.25% over the prediction period.

The country's inflation flatlined at 1.4% in May after a bump up in April and is expected to average the same level across full-year 2024, according to the SNB's latest projections.

The Swiss bank said it now anticipates economic growth of around 1% this year and around 1.5% in 2025, anticipating slight increases in unemployment and small declines in the utilization of production capacity.

"Over the medium term, economic activity should improve gradually, supported by somewhat stronger demand from abroad," the SNB said.

Speaking to CNBC's Silvia Amaro, SNB Chair Thomas Jordan stressed the impact that inflationary winds had on the bank's latest decision-making.

"[We have] inflationary pressures that slightly declined, we have also [a] strong Swiss franc, and we have an increase in uncertainty globally. So, we came to the conclusion that, given those circumstances, it is best to lower rates by 25 basis points," he said.

While underlining that the SNB's foremost instrument is its interest rate, Jordan said that the bank is