Translating from French in Switzerland: the case of the "taux plancher"

Many have observed the "shock and awe" shenanigans of the SNB in recent weeks, with the removal of the "taux plancher" against the euro.

How should we translate "taux plancher"?

"Floor rate!" exclaims everyone unanimously.

In German, it is "Mindestkurs".

Thing is, in Switzerland, German is the majority language (in writing, that is). So perhaps instead of saying "floor rate", we should be saying "minimum exchange rate" - which is incidentally the term I've been hearing most often on US financial news channels recently.

"Interest rate floor" seems to be a common term, but "floor (exchange) rate" is starting to look very much like translationese... To make matters worse, the term "cross-currency floor" exists but looks more like an options-based strategy than anything else: http://www.investment-and-finance.net/derivatives/c/cross-currency-floor.html

Another solution is to see the "floor" as a cap against appreciation in the Swiss franc: "the SNB removed its currency cap and let the franc float freely..."

Financial Translation Summer School in Spiez this year

This is always an excellent event. Smart combination of good seminars, nice food and a breath-taking location!

http://new.astti.ch/web/ASTTI_Financial_Translation_Summer_School_SAVE_THE_DATE_424_3-1.php