Swiss Market Ends On Firm Note

RTTNews | 92 days ago
Swiss Market Ends On Firm Note

(RTTNews) - The Switzerland market shrugged off a weak start and moved higher on Thursday, tracking other European markets as the European Central Bank cut its key interest rate to 3.25%, in its third quarter-percentage-point reduction of the year.

The benchmark SMI, which edged down to 12,130.49 in early trades, ended the session with a gain of 111.20 points or 0.91% at 12,304.27, nearly 50 points off the day's high of 12,353.12.

Schindler Ps rallied 4.84%. Lonza Group gained about 3%, while Nestle and ABB closed higher by 2.53% and 2.42%, respectively.

Sonova climbed nearly 2%. Julius Baer and Holcim both gained about 1.5%. Partners Group, Logitech International, Roche Holding, UBS Group and Zurich Insurance Group also closed on a firm note.

Adecco ended down 4.3%. Givaudan, Straumann Holding and Swatch Group closed lower by 1.59%, 1.31% and 1%, respectively. VAT Group, Sandoz Group, SIG Group and Alcon closed moderately lower.

Data from Federal Customs Administration said the trade surplus in Switzerland narrowed slightly to CHF 3.9 billion in September, from a marginally revised CHF 4.0 billion in the previous month. Exports fell 1.4% month-on-month to CHF 21.9 billion, while imports declined 1.1% to CHF 18.0 billion.

For the third quarter, the trade surplus narrowed to CHF 11.3 billion from CHF 12.7 billion in the previous period.

read more
UK Retail Sales Drop Unexpectedly On Weak Food Store Sales

UK Retail Sales Drop Unexpectedly On Weak Food Store Sales

UK retail sales declined unexpectedly in December despite the festive season as food sales logged its worst performance since 2013, data from the Office for National Statistics showed Friday. Retail sales volume decreased 0.3 percent on a monthly basis in December, in contrast to the revised 0.1 percent gain in November. The decline confounded expectations for an increase of 0.4 percent.
RTTNews | 5h 42min ago
Malaysia Economy Logs Slower Growth

Malaysia Economy Logs Slower Growth

Malaysia's economy logged a softer growth in the fourth quarter as expansions in manufacturing and construction weakened but the overall growth for 2024 came within the government forecast. Gross domestic product climbed 4.8 percent from a year ago in the fourth quarter, advance estimates from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday. But this was weaker than the 5.3 percent expansion.
RTTNews | 9h 6min ago
European Shares Extend Gains On Rate Cut Bets

European Shares Extend Gains On Rate Cut Bets

European stocks extended gains on Friday, after having hit their highest level in a month the previous day on the back of strong results from Cartier owner Richemont and renewed rate-cut hopes.
RTTNews | 9h 12min ago
FTSE 100 Rallies On BoE Rate-cut Bets

FTSE 100 Rallies On BoE Rate-cut Bets

U.K. stocks rose sharply on Friday while the British pound weakened against other major currencies after data showed British retail sales declined unexpectedly in December on falling food store sales.
RTTNews | 9h 25min ago
CAC 40 Edges Higher Ahead Of Eurozone Inflation Data

CAC 40 Edges Higher Ahead Of Eurozone Inflation Data

French stocks were moving higher on Friday after a Federal Reserve official said the U.S. central bank could cut rates three or four times this year if inflation data cooperates, with a first cut possible before July.
RTTNews | 9h 35min ago