Swiss Stocks Wobble Near Record Highs, Actelion Rises On Late-stage Drug Results

(RTTNews) - The Swiss markets were basically flat Tuesday, even as most stocks edged into positive territory ahead of tomorrow's interest rate announcement from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The Swiss Market Index inched up 4.2 points, or 0.05 percent, to 8,667.79, staying near a recent record high.

Actelion shares rose 6.4 percent after the biotechnology company said an experimental heart-and-lung drug met targets in a late-stage study.

Novartis has submitted its meningitis B vaccine Bexsero for adolescents and young people to the U.S. FDA. Shares were down fractionally.

Swisscom AG has sweetened its takeover bid for PubliGroupe Ltd to 214 Swiss francs per share. PubliGroupe's board is urging shareholders to accept the offer.

Swisscom shares were up 0.3 percent, while Publigroupe added 4.6 percent.