Swiss stocks - Factors to watch on Aug 17

St Galler Kantonalbank AG

17/08/2016 07:04

ZURICH, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMI  .SSMI  
was seen opening 0.1 percent down at 8,207 points on Wednesday, 
according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer 
 JBPRE01 . 
    The following are some of the main factors expected to 
affect Swiss stocks on Wednesday: 
       
    COMPANY STATEMENTS  CPR-CH  
    * Meyer Burger  MBTN.S  returned to profitability in the 
first six months of 2016 as net sales rose 75 percent to 217.8 
million Swiss francs  ($226.10 million).  MBTN.S  
    * Hochdorf Holding  HOCN.S  lowered its forecast for annual 
turnover to 540 million francs from 580 million due to the 
persistently low price of milk, its CEO said. Through June, the 
group processed 415.9 million kilogrammes of milk, whey, 
permeate and cream, down 1.3 percent from the prior-year period. 
 HOCN.S  
    * Mail-order pharmacy Zur Rose  ZUROS.UL  reached 
profitability with a positive of 0.2 million francs in the first 
half-year, compared to a 2 million loss during the same period 
the year before. Chief Executive Walter Oberhaensli said the 
group was seeking to expand over the next two years and would 
not be focusing on earnings.  ZUROS.UL  
    * Cicor's  CICN.S  chief executive is leaving the group as 
Alexander Hagemann steps into the role on September 1. CFO 
Patric Schoch will act as the company's chief executive in the 
interim weeks. The group lost 0.6 million francs in the first 
six months, now expecting a turnaround from its microelectronics 
and substrates division in the second half.  CICN.S  
Half-year operating profit was up 7.1 percent year-on-year  
    * St Galler Kantonalbank  SGKN.S  half-year operating profit 
was up 7.1 percent year-on-year even as a one-off gain in the 
first six months of 2015 offset that rise on the net profit 
level. "The bank is still committed to its year forecast 
presented at the beginning of the fiscal year expecting a 
slightly higher consolidated profit than in 2015," the cantonal 
bank said.  SGKN.S  
    * Leclanche  LECN.S  added four major institutional 
investors and raised 11.1 million Swiss francs in the first 
tranche of a capital rising programme, the company said on 
Monday evening.  LECN.S  
    * Ascom Holding  ASCN.S  posted a 5.6 million franc group 
loss mainly due to its network testing division even as it said 
its 2020 strategy was on track.  ASCN.S  
     
    ECONOMY  M-CH  
    * Swiss ZEW investor for August due at 0900 GMT  CHZEW=ECI  
 
($1 = 0.9633 Swiss francs) 
 
 (Reporting by Zurich newsroom) 
 ((+41 58 306 7336)(zurich.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com)) 
  
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