Belgian stocks finished the trading day in positive territory on Wednesday, with sector gains in Healthcare, Financials and Technology helping push the benchmark higher.
At the Brussels close the BEL 20 index was up 0.69%.
The session's top performer on the index was Argen-X (EBR:ARGX), which advanced 3.23% -- a 24.40 point increase -- to end at 780.20. KBC Groep NV (EBR:KBC) posted a 1.78% rise, gaining 2.10 points to close at 119.85. Sofina (EBR:SOF) also finished higher, up 1.64% or 3.60 points to 223.20 in late trade.
On the downside, Aperam SA (AS:APAM) led losses on the list of named names, slipping 2.33% or 1.17 points to finish at 48.98. Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) declined 1.28% or 0.13 points to 10.03, while Warehouses de Pauw Comm VA (EBR:WDPP) fell 1.09% or 0.24 points to 21.76.
Market internals were mixed: falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 47 to 42, and 14 issues were unchanged at the close.
Commodities recorded modest gains during the session. Gold Futures for August delivery rose 0.65% -- an increase of 28.47 -- to trade at $4,382.87 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery climbed 0.85% or $0.65 to $76.70 a barrel, and the August Brent contract increased 0.72% or $0.57 to $79.53 a barrel.
Currency moves were small. EUR/USD was reported unchanged at a 0.15% move to 1.16, and EUR/GBP was unchanged at a 0.10% move to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.18% at 99.46.
Investors scanning the close would have noted that gains in key sectors helped the main index advance, even as a larger number of individual stocks declined compared with those that rose. Commodities and FX posted slight directional changes that accompanied the equity session.
Market context summary:
- BEL 20: +0.69% at close.
- Top gainers: Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) +3.23% to 780.20; KBC Groep (EBR:KBC) +1.78% to 119.85; Sofina (EBR:SOF) +1.64% to 223.20.
- Top laggards: Aperam (AS:APAM) -2.33% to 48.98; Azelis (EBR:AZE) -1.28% to 10.03; Warehouses de Pauw (EBR:WDPP) -1.09% to 21.76.
- Commodities: Gold Aug +0.65% to $4,382.87/oz; Crude Jul +0.85% to $76.70/bbl; Brent Aug +0.72% to $79.53/bbl.
- FX and benchmarks: EUR/USD ~1.16 (unchanged 0.15%); EUR/GBP ~0.87 (unchanged 0.10%); US Dollar Index Futures 99.46 (+0.18%).