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Swiss stocks turned in a fine performance on Tuesday on positive cues from other major markets<\/span> in the region, and on hopes major central banks will start reducing rates sometime in the foreseeable future. <\/p>\n The benchmark SMI, which stayed firm right through the day’s session, settled with a gain of 141.38 points or 1.25% at 11,46915. The index climbed to a high of 11,515.09 in early afternoon trades, but pared some gains as the day progressed.<\/p>\n Lonza Group rallied nearly 4%. Partners Group gained about 3.25%, while VAT Group, Swiss Re, Roche Holdings and Julius Baer climbed 2.1 to 2.7%.<\/p>\n Novartis gained 1.81% after the company raised its full-year guidance, citing momentum in its business<\/span> and pipeline. The company said it expects net sales growth in high-single to low-double-digit from the previous forecast of a mid-single-digit increase.<\/p>\n Swiss Life Holding, Holcim, Richemont, Lindt Spruengli, UBS Group, Geberit and Straumann Holding ended higher by 1.3 to 2%.<\/p>\n Logitech International, ABB, Schindler Ps, Givaudan, Alcon, SIG Group and Sonova posted moderate gains.<\/p>\n Kuehne & Nagel dropped nearly 5% after the company reported a 40% decline in its first-quarter earnings. <\/p>\n Sandoz Group drifted down 1.4%. SGS and Swisscom ended lower by 0.9% and 0.77%, respectively. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n