Swiss Stocks Follow European Markets Higher In Catch-Up Trade

(RTTNews) - Swiss shares rallied on Tuesday, catching up to gains in other European markets after the Whit Holiday break.

Investors were in a cheerful mood after last week's European Central Bank stimulus measures.

The Swiss Market Index jumped to its highest since 2007, adding 1.08 percent to 8,752.86. Health care stocks led the way, as both Roche and Novartis picked up nearly 2 percent.

Financial stocks UBS, Swiss Re and Swiss Life were higher.

On the losing side, Syngenta fell by 1.6 percent and Sika dropped 1.5 percent.

Syngenta suffered from speculation that China will extend its ban on products with American corn.

Leclanche said it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Saint Gobain to co-develop a new ceramic separator for use in lithium-ion batteries. Shares rose 3.4 percent.