Belgian shares finished lower Thursday, with losses concentrated in Healthcare, Consumer Goods and Telecoms driving the main benchmark lower. At the close in Brussels the BEL 20 fell 0.96%.
On an individual stock basis, Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) was the top performer on the BEL 20, rising 2.79% or 2.25 points to close at 83.00. Solvay SA (EBR:SOLB) added 0.58% or 0.16 points to finish at 27.80, and Groep Brussel Lambert NV (EBR:GBLB) advanced 0.51% or 0.40 points to 79.30 in late trade.
Among the laggards, Aperam SA (AS:APAM) led declines by falling 4.08% or 2.00 points to end at 46.98. Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) dropped 2.29% or 0.23 points to 9.80, while Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) slid 2.23% or 17.40 points to 762.80.
Market breadth on the Brussels Stock Exchange was negative, with falling issues outnumbering advancing ones by 59 to 28; 19 stocks finished unchanged.
Commodity markets registered notable moves during the session. Gold Futures for August delivery was down 3.10% or 135.73 to $4,245.67 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery declined 2.73% or 2.10 to $74.69 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract fell 2.34% or 1.86 to trade at $77.69 a barrel.
In currency markets EUR/USD was unchanged, moving 0.31% to 1.15, and EUR/GBP was unchanged, moving 0.21% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures strengthened, rising 0.68% to 100.54.
The session showed a mix of defensive and cyclical pressure, with the headline index retreating under the weight of sector losses even as a handful of names posted gains. Broader market participation was tilted toward declines, while commodities and oil fell and the dollar gained ground.