15 March 2011 : The Swiss National Bank is set 
to keep interest rates unchanged on Thursday as risks to the
global economy have increased in the wake of the Japan disaster
and a surging Swiss franc may weigh on the economy. 

 The SNB will announce its rate decision, along with growth
and inflation forecasts, at 0830 GMT on March 17, followed by a
statement with an assessment of the state of the economy.

 Following is a chronology of the SNB's interest rate moves
since it switched to a target band system in 2000.

 DATE                                   TARGET BAND

                                         (PCT)

 TIGHTENING

 February 3, 2000                       1.75 - 2.75

 March 23, 2000                         2.50 - 3.50

 June 15, 2000                          3.00 - 4.00

 EASING

 March 22, 2001                         2.75 - 3.75

 September 17, 2001                     2.25 - 3.25

 September 24, 2001                     1.75 - 2.75

 December 7, 2001                       1.25 - 2.25

 May 2, 2002                            0.75 - 1.75

 July 26, 2002                          0.25 - 1.25

 March 6, 2003                          0.00 - 0.75

 TIGHTENING

 June 17, 2004                          0.00 - 1.00

 September 16, 2004                     0.25 - 1.25

 December 15, 2005                      0.50 - 1.50

 March 16, 2006                         0.75 - 1.75

 June 15, 2006                          1.00 - 2.00

 September 14, 2006                     1.25 - 2.25

 December 14, 2006                      1.50 - 2.50 

 March 15, 2007                         1.75 - 2.75

 June 14, 2007                          2.00 - 3.00

 September 13, 2007                     2.25 - 3.25

 EASING

 October 8, 2008                        2.00 - 3.00

 November 6, 2008                       1.50 - 2.50

 November 20, 2008                      0.50 - 1.50

 December 11, 2008                      0.00 - 1.00
March 12, 2009                         0.00 - 0.75*

 * Usually, the SNB aims to keep the LIBOR at the mid-point
of the range. In March 2003 and 2009, the SNB narrowed the
range, aiming for the lower end or 0.25 percent.

 In March 2009, the SNB announced a number of unconventional
steps together with the rate change, including market
interventions to fight a rise in the franc. These steps were
later gradually reduced and then fully dropped in June 2010.