The Swiss franc firmed against the dollar but was barely changed against the euro as investors braced for a likely rate rise by the European central Bank later on Thursday.
The franc was 0.3 percent higher against the dollar at 1.1924 per dollar and stood at 1.5882 against the euro, a fractional change from the previous session. Against the yen, the franc was trading 0.1 percent easier at 96.24 yen.
Investors are awaiting signs from ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet that interest rates may keep rising in the euro zone in 2007 after an expected hike to 3.5 percent Analysts also see the SNB hiking rates at its quarterly meeting next week but the rate outlook for 2007 is less certain, given ultra-low inflation and first signs of an economic slowdown. Analysts had expected the rate to remain unchanged from October at 3.2 percent.