Swiss Stocks Virtually Unchanged In Quiet Session

(RTTNews) - Swiss stocks were flat on Tuesday, pausing after a recent rally took the Swiss Market Index to multi-year highs.

The major Swiss companies were quiet today, leaving the SMI down 0.02 percent a 8,710.38.

Swiss shares lagged behind other European markets, most of which rallied on expectations for stimulus from the European Central Bank.

UBS named Gary Head as its new global chief of cash equities. Shares were up 0.4 percent.

Food giant Nestle shares slipped 0.4 percent, as did drug maker Roche.

Tamedia upped its bid for PubliGroupe to 190 Swiss francs per share, but the new offer was still less than the offer by Swisscom. Swisscom shares were flat.