A wide majority of 58% of voters looked set to reject the proposal, which would have implications for major Swiss banks and investors, as well as Swiss industry, initial counts showed.

The Initiative Against the War Trade proposed banning the central bank and pension funds from holding shares in companies which generate more than 5% of sales from weapons and components. It would ban banks from lending to defence firms.

(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; Editing by Edmund Blair)