SMI closes 110 points higher as Roche leads
Published on 10/20/2026 at 22:43 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSDefensive leadership and dates
- The SMI finished at 14,478 points on October 20, up 110 points or 0.8 percent.
- Roche's 2.6 percent gain led defensive healthcare shares higher.
- ABB was the biggest SMI loser, down 5.0 percent after its earnings release.
- Forbo's Capital Market Day is scheduled for October 21, 2026.
The SMI closed at 14,478 points on October 20, up 110 points or 0.8 percent. Defensive healthcare stocks led the advance as Roche rallied after a double upgrade.
Roche gained 2.6 percent, while ABB fell 5.0 percent after its quarterly earnings release. Seventeen of the 20 SMI members finished higher, according to Cash.
Why did the SMI rise on October 20?
Healthcare heavyweight Roche led the index after Oddo BHF upgraded the shares twice. Cash reported that the move encouraged investors to shift funds from Novo Nordisk into Roche.
Novartis rose 1.9 percent and Nestle added 0.7 percent. Alcon gained 2.2 percent and Lonza advanced 1.9 percent, reinforcing the defensive leadership, RTTNews reported.
Roche and ABB set the SMI stock tone
Roche was the strongest SMI gainer at the close. ABB was the clear laggard after its results exceeded expectations but did not raise its targets as much as investors had hoped, Cash reported.
SMI holds above the morning low
The index opened at 14,367 points and fell to a day low of 14,332 points. It later reached 14,494 points before closing at 14,478 points, according to Yahoo Finance.
The wider European market remained under pressure as crude oil prices stayed elevated and investors focused on upcoming artificial-intelligence earnings, Reuters reported. The SMI's defensive composition helped it outperform weaker regional benchmarks.
What comes next for the SMI
The next scheduled Swiss corporate event is Forbo's Capital Market Day on October 21, 2026, listed in the Swiss market calendar by Cash.
SMI price data for October 20, 2026
The SMI closed at 14,478 points on October 20, 2026, up 110 points or 0.8 percent versus the October 19 close of 14,369 points, RTTNews reported. It opened at 14,367 points and traded between 14,332 points and 14,494 points.
SMI by the numbers on October 20, 2026
- Index: SMI
- Home exchange: SIX Swiss Exchange, Switzerland
- Close on October 20, 2026: 14,478 points
- Change versus previous close of October 19, 2026: up 110 points (up 0.8 percent)
- Previous close: 14,369 points
- Open: 14,367 points
- Day high / day low: 14,494 points / 14,332 points
- Top gainer: Roche up 2.6 percent
- Top loser: ABB down 5.0 percent
