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The Switzerland stock market ended on a positive note on Thursday, in line with most of the markets<\/span> across Europe, as investors picked up some frontline stocks after recent weakness.<\/p>\n The benchmark SMI ended with a gain of 43.61 points or 0.36% at 12,028.44, after moving in a tight range. The index touched a low of 12,024.67 and a high of 12,099.26.<\/p>\n Partners Group gained more than 2%. Givaudan, Sika, Lonza Group and Swiss Life Holding gained 1 to 1.3%.<\/p>\n SGS ended nearly 1% up. Credit Suisse, UBS Group, ABB, Geberit, Nestle and Roche Holding gained 0.4 to 0.85%.<\/p>\n Richemont declined 1.1%, while Novartis and Alcon shed 0.46% and 0.4%, respectively.<\/p>\n Among the stocks in the Mid Price Index, Straumann Holding rallied nearly 4%. Sonova gained about 3%. VAT Group climbed 2.8%, while Adecco, Flughafen Zurich, Helvetia and Lindt & Spreuengli gained 1.8 to 2.5%.<\/p>\n Vifor Pharma, SIG Combibloc and AMS shed 1.5 to 1.8%, while Tecan Group closed nearly 1% down.<\/p>\n The Swiss economy<\/span> is expected to expand at a faster pace next year after losing the momentum temporarily this year, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, said in its Autumn forecast, released Thursday.<\/p>\n Gross domestic product is forecast to grow 3.4% this year, down from the previous outlook of 3.8%, the report showed. Nonetheless, the economic activity is likely to have exceeded pre-crisis levels during the summer, the SECO noted.<\/p>\n The expert group of SECO expects recovery in the short-term to be somewhat less dynamic. The agency observed that sectors such as international tourism are likely to emerge from the crisis more hesitantly.<\/p>\n The projection for 2022 was upgraded to 3.6% from 3.5% as domestic demand and foreign trade will pick up with growth momentum in the global economy. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n