Swiss Stocks Rise Amid Mixed Signals as Amrize Slumps on Rising Costs

Swiss stocks closed higher by 0.18% on Friday as investors digested new data and company updates, but building-materials maker Amrize bucked the trend with an 8.78% decline.

The mixed performance was attributed to a consumer sentiment survey that showed improvement in July, although it remained deeply negative compared to last year. Households' financial outlook and willingness to make big purchases were weaker than expected.

Meanwhile, the Swiss National Bank's foreign-currency reserves rose in July, which can indicate how actively the central bank is managing the franc and local financial conditions.

Novaartis, a Swiss drugmaker, received a boost after its Rhapsido treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria was approved by the UK's medicines regulator. However, Amrize's warning about rising oil-linked costs outpacing price increases weighed on its stock.