"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 declined on Tuesday after Ireland said it will hold a referendum on EU fiscal treaty and a report showed U.S. durable goods fell more than expected.
The Swiss blue-chip index SMI, a measure of the largest and most actively traded companies, slid 0.31%, or 18.83 points, to 6,125.09. The broader Swiss Performance Index fell 0.29%, or 16.21 points, to 5,593.99.
"The figures are disappointing and surprising in light of the recent improvements in sentiment," said Ralf Umlauf, head of floor research at Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thueringen in Frankfurt.
"If February shows no recovery, it would be a very weak indication for the investment activities in the first quarter."
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