UBS, Roche Lead Swiss Shares Lower

(RTTNews) - Swiss stocks eased a bit Friday as German and French shares fell sharply on news that Ukraine forces have engaged Russia tanks.

Ukrainian artillery destroyed a "significant" part of a Russian armored column that crossed into Ukraine during the night, according to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

The Swiss Market Index slipped 0.28 percent to 8,406.10, as big bank UBS and health care majors Roche and Novartis struggled.

Roche said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had approved the use of its Avastin cancer drug in combination with chemotherapy to treat advanced cervical cancer. The stock slipped 0.7 percent.

Phoenix Mecano said first half sales were virtually the same as the previous year. The stock fell 5.8 percent.

Nestle shares were up fractionally. Nestle USA is closing its Chatsworth Hot Pockets plant and moving the work to its operation in Mount Sterling, Ky.