Switzerland has long been viewed worldwide as a country of banks, insurance companies and financial services, with more than 400 registered banks and financial services companies. The Swiss' global reputation as the world's banking capital, particularly for the ultra-wealthy where the Swiss banking practices are shielded in secrecy, is facing rising competition from its European neighbors, as well as from US banking and financial institutions.

The country's largest investment bank and one of the three largest in the world, UBS, faces some profound challenges in the upcoming year given requirements to take substantial write-downs for investments tied up with the sub-prime market. Over the last few months job cut announcements have become common and regular. Says UBS Chief Executive Marcel Rohner "clearly the industry is in a very difficult environment and we have to review the capacity with which we operate in this environment. That's something you'd usually do in a difficult environment."

This is just a sample of what you'll find in the complete Switzerland guide.