"The risk of a correction is very present as markets have gotten off to a strong start to the year"
- Mikkel Kierkegaard Petersen, a senior equity adviser at Nordea Private Banking
Swiss stocks fell on Friday, led by Nestle SA, Roche Holding AG and Novartis AG.
The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, erased 0.27%, or 16.84 points, to 6,184.13. The broader Swiss Performance Index lost 0.12%, or 6.77 points, to 5,606.56.
"The risk of a correction is very present as markets have gotten off to a strong start to the year, just like in 2011," said Mikkel Kierkegaard Petersen, a senior equity adviser at Nordea Private Banking in Copenhagen.
"This year has been a reverse of last year as cyclical shares have risen while defensives have been left behind."
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