BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market got off to a positive start Tuesday, but slipped into the red by midday and remained there for the rest of the session. However, the market ended the day little changed overall.
Traders were in a cautious mood, as the earnings reporting season in the United States has begun. Investors also continue to monitor the situation in Spain, where Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has given the leader of Catalonia until Thursday to clarify whether he was withdrawing his plan to declare independence from Spain.
The Swiss Market Index decreased by 0.05 percent Tuesday and finished at 9,269.86. The Swiss Leader Index dropped 0.10 percent and the Swiss Performance Index lost 0.13 percent.
Credit Suisse rose 1.2 percent amid reports that activist investor RBR Capital has launched a campaign to break up the investment bank. Shares of rival UBS also finished higher by 0.5 percent.
Sonova gained 1.0 percent after CEO Lukas Braunschweiler made some optimistic comments at an investor event.
Index heavyweight Roche increased by 0.7 percent Tuesday. Meanwhile, Novartis dropped 0.5 percent and Nestlé slid 0.3 percent.
Lonza declined 1.4 percent, adding to the losses from the previous session. Kuehne + Nagel weakened by another 1.1 percent, after its disappointing report Monday.
Aryzta fell 1.1 percent and LafargeHolcim surrendered 0.9 percent. Clariant and Swiss Re finished lower by 0.7 percent each.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX