Swiss Stocks Rally as SMI Gains 1.21%, Sandoz and UBS Lead Advance

Switzerland's benchmark SMI closed up 175.76 points, or 1.21%, at 14,756.86 on Thursday, as earnings optimism and positive cues from other European markets lifted the index throughout the session. The index traded between 14,656.57 and 14,861.53. Sandoz Group led gains, climbing 4.4%. Amrize rose 3.2% and UBS Group advanced nearly 3%. Holcim, Galderma Group and Novartis added 2.3% to 2.6%, while Alcon, Kuehne + Nagel and Lonza Group gained 1.75% to 2%. Julius Baer and Sika rose 1.4% and 1.2%, respectively, with Geberit, Helvetia Baloise, Roche, Swiss Life, Swiss Re and Zurich Insurance posting moderate gains. Decliners included Lindt & Spruengli, down 1.1%, and SGS, down about 0.8%. Sonova and Logitech International closed modestly lower.