Belgian equities ended the trading session lower on Thursday, with the benchmark BEL 20 index registering a 0.19% decline at the close in Brussels. The pullback was led by losses in the Consumer Services, Financials and Utilities sectors, which weighed on the overall market.
On the index, Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) was the session's strongest performer, rising 2.08% - an increase of 1.70 points - to finish at 83.35. Lotus Bakeries (EBR:LOTB) also posted a solid gain, climbing 2.03% or 220.00 points to close at 11,080.00. Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) added 1.38%, or 9.80 points, to end the day at 719.00.
Decliners included several of the BEL 20's heavyweight names. Anheuser Busch Inbev SA NV (EBR:ABI) fell 1.88% - down 1.36 points - to close at 71.04. Ageas (EBR:AGES) slipped 1.48%, a decline of 1.00 point, to finish at 66.75. KBC Groep NV (EBR:KBC) lost 0.96% or 1.10 points, ending the session at 113.10.
Market breadth on the Brussels Stock Exchange was narrowly positive by count: 50 stocks advanced, 44 declined and 12 finished unchanged.
Two components of the BEL 20 reached new 52-week highs during the session. Shares of Melexis NV rose to a 52-week high at 83.35, up 2.08%. Lotus Bakeries likewise logged a 52-week high, climbing 2.03% to 11,080.00.
Commodities and foreign exchange moved alongside equities. Gold Futures for August delivery gained 0.66%, an increase of 29.62, to trade at $4,511.12 a troy ounce. In energy markets, July delivery crude oil rose 1.57% or $1.39 to $90.07 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract climbed 1.16% or $1.07 to $93.32 a barrel.
In currency markets, EUR/USD was effectively unchanged by 0.20% at 1.16, and EUR/GBP was unchanged by 0.07% at 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures eased 0.17% to 98.98.
The session's price moves left the BEL 20 modestly lower for the day, with a mixed internals profile and divergent moves among large caps and commodities. Trading activity highlighted pockets of strength in select technology and consumer names that reached year highs, contrasted with weakness among some financial and consumer staples names.