Swiss stocks concluded the trading week little changed amid a quiet day of economic news locally and light trading volumes due to a US holiday.
The Swiss Market Index was up 0.06% at the end of Friday's trading session.
On the geopolitical front, the planned talks between the US and Iran set to take place today in Switzerland regarding the implementation of the recently signed memorandum of understanding were postponed "for the time being," the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs said in a release without specifying any reasons for the cancellation. Preparations for the talks at the Bürgenstock, however, were continuing.
The postponement comes as Israel launched airstrikes in Lebanon, Reuters and other media outlets reported.
In corporate news, Holcim (HOLN.SW) completed its purchase of Germany-headquartered walling systems company Xella as part of its growth strategy, with the acquisition expected to be accretive to the Swiss building materials company's EPS and cash flow from the first year. Holcim's shares closed the session 0.67% lower.
Berenberg raised its price target for Eli Lilly (LLY.SW) to $1,135 from $1,050, with an unchanged hold rating on the stock, taking into account higher expectations for the Switzerland-listed pharmaceutical company's injectable obesity franchise.
"Eli Lilly delivered excellent P3 efficacy and safety data for retatrutide (tri-agonist) at the ADA conference; we raise our forecasts accordingly. Meanwhile, the launch ramp of Foundayo (oral GLP-1) remains slow, in sharp contrast with that of Novo's Wegovy pill. Our Foundayo forecasts are below consensus," the research firm said. "In H2, we expect additional P3 retatrutide and Foundayo obesity co-morbidity data, P2 tirzepatide plus eloralintide obesity combination data and P3 remternetug data in Alzheimer's disease."