11:57 AM EDT, 10/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Swiss stocks welcomed the new trading week on a positive note, with the Swiss Market Index up 0.66% on Monday's close, amid the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war. "The big geopolitical/energy story over the weekend is the continued complexity of the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine conflicts. Trump announced yesterday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate 'energy ceasefire', but overnight developments underline how fragile that claim is," according to Deutsche Bank Research. "The proposed ceasefire is closely linked to the extraordinary US pivot on Russian diesel." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he did not know about the ceasefire proclaimed by Trump and first heard it through the media, but expressed willingness to respect such a deal if Russia does the same. Zelenskyy also said Russia struck a power plant in Ukraine following Trump's announcement. Over to corporates, Roche (RO.SW) shares rose 0.87% after presenting new one-year data from two late-stage studies evaluating vamikibart as a treatment for uveitic macular edema, compared with a sham procedure mimicking intravitreal injections in adults with the disease. The US Food and Drug Administration also accepted the Swiss pharmaceutical major's biologics license application for the investigational drug, with the regulator's decision on approval anticipated by July 2027. BofA Global Research maintained its buy rating on Novartis (NOVN.SW), with a price objective of 150 francs, expecting the drugmaker to unveil new mid-term growth guidance at its capital markets day in November. The research firm also forecasts higher peak sales targets for key assets. The stock was up 0.72%. "Part of focus is likely mid-term guides, with: 1) Roll forward of existing 25-30 CAGR (at 5-6%) to 26-31E, likely above cons' c4% CAGR and we think include c5% in some form, and; 2) Reiteration of post-31E growth at mid-sd% despite cons 31-33E being a c4% decline," BofA said in a note. "Mid-term growth through patent cliff (c$20bn headwind from Cosentyx 29E, Kisqali & Kesimpta 31E) is key investor debate post 2 pipeline fails (pela, DM1) and shares back at c15x 27E PE." Looking ahead to the rest of the week, on the agenda are Switzerland's producer and import prices report for September. Elsewhere, the UK's latest gross domestic product figures for August and the US' September consumer price index data are set for release.

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