Swiss Stockmarket performance Q1 2018
Tornos (+116%) a machine-tool manufacturer was the biggest winner on the Swiss stock exchange in Q1, 2018, while Aryzta (-45%), a food and speciality baked goods manufacturer continued its slide from 2017.
Due to interest rate worries and the fear of a trade war, in the first quarter 2018 there were more losers than winners. In the SMI, only three out of twenty stocks posted a positive total return in the first quarter: Swiss Re (+6.6) and Zurich Insurance (+5.6%) were strong while the Swatch Group shares (+7.5%) benefited from the recovery in demand for Swiss watches.
Overall in the SMI / SPI Tornos stand out, now reaping the benefits of its restructuring.
Among the SMI / SPI losers, Swisscom (-8.7%) suffered because a competitor, SALT, announced entry into the fixed network business. Nestle (-9.8%) lost ground due worries about future growth prospects. Solar supplier Meyer Burger (-33.8) presented a bleak outlook for 2018 with a consequent fall in their value of more than a third.
Overall Aryzta gave up the most ground. Apart from being heavily indebted Aryzta again warned of a profit slump at the end of January. Their shares dropped 34% in four trading days.
