ZURICH/BERLIN, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The Swiss blue-chip SMIwas seen opening 0.2% higher at 10,115 points on Friday,according to premarket indications by bank Julius Baer.
Here are some of the main factors that may affect Swissstocks:
MONETARY POLICY
Further easing by the European Central Bank on Thursday addspressure on the Swiss National Bank to relax its alreadyultra-expansive policy based on a negative interest rate of-0.75% and currency market interventions to reduce upwardpressure on the safe-haven Swiss franc. On Thursday the SNBdeclined to comment on the possible implications for its ownmonetary policy after the ECB decided to lower its deposit rateand restart its bond buying programme.
ALPIQ
A consortium led by CSA Energie-Infrastruktur Schweiz (CSA)has got 89.22% of shares in Swiss utility Alpiq after a 70 Swissfrancs ($70.73) per share tender offer, according to definitivepreliminary results issued on Friday.
NESTLE
Nestle has set up a research institute to develop moreenvironmentally friendly packaging for its products and reduceplastic waste, taking matters into its own hands rather thanrelying on its suppliers.
COMPANY STATEMENTS
* Roche Holding said post-hoc analysis from a phaseIII open-label extension study showed a 42% reduction in risk ofprimary progressive MS (PPMS) patients needing a wheelchairafter 6.5 years of Ocrevus treatment compared with patients whostarted Ocrevus after double-blind period.
* Roche said Genentech's fixed-dose subcutaneous combinationof Perjeta and Herceptin showed non-inferiority when compared tointravenous formulations for people with HER2-positive breastcancer.
* Novartis said data show neuronal and glialfilaments, biomarkers of disease activity, have the potential tosupport decision making in the management of multiple sclerosis(MS) patients.
* BFW Liegenschaften H1 EBIT down at CHF 9.1million.
* Fundamenta Real Estate AG H1 net result up 54.2%at CHF 10.09 million.
* Zug Estates sees one-off positive impact of CHF19 million in 2019.
* Cham Group completes share buyback program atfixed price.
ECONOMY
No economic data scheduled.($1 = 0.9897 Swiss francs)(Reporting by Zurich newsroom and Berlin Speed Desk)