While the majority of the European markets ended Thursday's session in the red, the Swiss stock market held onto a modest gain. The positive performance of the defensive heavyweights provided support to the overall market.
The Swiss Market Index increased by 0.33 percent on Thursday and finished at 8,779.18. The Swiss Leader Index dropped 0.23 percent, but the Swiss Performance Index rose 0.27 percent.
Nestle rose 0.7 percent. The food group confirmed guidance after reporting 2.9 percent growth in sales for the third quarter.
Novartis advanced 1.90 percent after the pharmaceutical firm announced an agreement and plan of merger with Endocyte, a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company.
Roche also finished higher by 1.1 percent.
Swatch Group declined 2.3 percent and rival Richemont lost 1.8 percent.
UBS and Julius Baer weakened by 1.3 percent each and Credit Suisse fell 1.1 percent.
Lafargeholcim was among the weakest performing stocks of the day, sinking 3.9 percent. Sika also finished lower by 2.2 percent.
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