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Switzerland’s equity index SMI closed on a firm note on Monday after staying positive right through the day’s trading session.<\/p>\n
The SMI, which moved between 13,607.18 and 13,670.34, settled with a gain of 55.33 points or 0.41% at 13,656.00.<\/p>\n
Holcim and Sandoz Group gained 1.57% and 1.43%, respectively. Lonza Group climbed 1.2%, while VAT Group, Novartis, Helvetia Baloise Holding and Zurich Insurance closed up by 1%-1.1%.<\/p>\n
UBS Group, ABB, Julius Baer, Lindt & Spruengli and Nestle posted moderate gains.<\/p>\n
Sonova ended down by 2.3%, and Kuehne + Nagel drifted down 2.2%. Alcon, Sika, Partners Group, Givaudan and Richemont finished lower by 1.2%-1.4%.<\/p>\n
Richemont, Galderma Group, Straumann Holding, SGS and Swiss Re also ended weak.<\/p>\n
In economic news, Switzerland’s economy<\/span> returned to growth in the fourth quarter, with the service sector expanding despite flat industrial output, the flash estimate from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, showed.<\/p>\n Gross domestic product expanded 0.2% on a quarterly basis, in contrast to the 0.5% contraction in the third quarter.<\/p>\n The ministry said the services sector showed weak growth while the industrial sector stagnated. The SECO is slated to publish revised GDP data for the fourth quarter on February 27.<\/p>\n In 2025, the economy grew 1.4%, accelerating from 1.2% in 2024. However, the rate remained below its long-term average. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n