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Despite swinging between gains and losses and moving along the flat line for much of the day’s session, the Switzerland stock market ended on a firm note on Friday, as buying gathered momentum in the closing minutes.<\/p>\n
Optimism about global economic recovery aided sentiment, while surging coronavirus<\/span> cases and concerns on the vaccine front limited market’s gains.<\/p>\n The benchmark SMI ended with a gain of 64.27 points or 0.57% at 11,262.97, the day’s high. The index touched a low of 11,198.70 in the session. The index gained 0.3% and 0.38%, on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.<\/p>\n LafargeHolcim gained about 2.1%. UBS Group ended nearly 2% up, while Sika, ABB and Partners Group gained 1.5 to 1.75%. <\/p>\n Credit Suisse, Zurich Insurance Group, SGS, Swisscom and Nestle also ended on a positive note, while Lonza Group, Richemont, Alcon and Roche Holding closed weak.<\/p>\n In the Mid Price index, Schindler Holding, Schindler Ps and VAT GRoup gained 3.1%, 2.7% and 2.5%, respectively. Logitech gained nearly 2% and Clariant ended higher by 1.8%.<\/p>\n Tecan Group, Adecco, Lindt & Spruengli, Swiss Prime Site, SIG Combibloc and Cembra Money Bank also closed notably higher.<\/p>\n Data released by the Federal Statistical Office showed Switzerland’s producer and import prices declined in March, falling 0.2% year-on-year.<\/p>\n The producer price index declined 0.4% annually in March and import prices increased 0.1%. On a monthly basis, producer and import prices increased 0.6% in March.<\/p>\n Prices for petroleum products, basic metals and semi-finished metal products as well as petroleum and natural gas were higher in March, the agency said.<\/p>\n Domestic sale prices grew 0.6% yearly in March and rose 0.4% from a month ago. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n