Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected an initiative that would have forced the central bank to hold a fifth of its assets in gold, which would have eroded its ability to conduct monetary policy.

Gold was important to many ancient civilisations. It was used in architecture, funerary adornments, jewellery and many other applications. Over the years, gold’s connotation remains unchanged ...

Deep in the Swiss Alps, next to an old airstrip suitable for landing Gulfstream and Falcon jets, is a vast bunker that holds what may be one of the world’s largest stashes of gold.