Swiss Stocks Flat, Holding Weekly Losses

(RTTNews) - Swiss stocks were little changed Friday as other European markets steadied after recent losses.

The Swiss Market Index was up 0.02 percent to 8774.36, and is up almost 7 percent year-to-date despite this week's modest losses.

Novartis said its investigational drug Signifor long acting release has been recommended by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use or CHMP for approval in the European Union or EU. Shares were down fractionally. The stock slipped 0.11 percent

Roche said it had launched a new Global Access Program for HIV viral load testing. Shares fell 0.57 percent.

Bell AG slipped 1 percent after saying it had appointed Marco Tschanz to replace Chief Financial Officer Martin Gysin.

Engineering group ABB may consider acquisitions next year once recent deals have been fully integrated, its chief executive told German newspaper Handelsblatt. The stock was up 0.23 percent.

German Industrial robots maker Kuka has offered to buy Swiss logistics company Swisslog Holding AG for about 339 million Swiss francs ($358 million).