Finland's equity market closed lower on Friday, with the OMX Helsinki 25 dropping 1.12% at the end of trading in Helsinki. Investors saw sectoral weakness concentrated in Telecoms, Technology and Oil & Gas, which collectively contributed to the downward pressure on the index.
The session's strongest performers on the OMX Helsinki 25 included Orion Oyj B (HE:ORNBV), which finished up 2.10% - a rise of 1.45 points to close at 70.60. Grocery and retail group Kesko Oyj (HE:KESKOB) added 1.84%, or 0.38 points, ending the day at 20.98. Energy company Fortum Oyj (HE:FORTUM) also registered gains, advancing 1.39% or 0.29 points to finish at 21.13 in late trade.
At the other end of the spectrum, Nokia Oyj (HE:NOKIA) led losses, sliding 5.87% - a decrease of 0.82 points to close at 13.08. Software and services firm Qt Group Oyj (HE:QTCOM) fell 5.50%, down 1.62 points to end at 27.86. Stainless steel producer Outokumpu Oyj (HE:OUT1V) declined 3.00%, or 0.19 points, to close at 5.99.
Market breadth was tilted toward declines: 87 stocks fell while 74 advanced on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, and 28 issues finished unchanged.
Commodity markets moved lower during the session. Brent oil for August delivery was down 1.62%, slipping $1.54 to $93.49 a barrel. U.S. crude for July delivery fell 2.42%, a drop of $2.25 to $90.79 a barrel. Precious metals also retreated, with the August Gold Futures contract down 3.21% - a decline of $144.45 to trade at $4,360.55 a troy ounce.
In FX markets, the euro was softer versus the dollar. EUR/USD fell 0.68% to 1.15, while EUR/GBP was essentially unchanged, moving 0.17% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.60% to 99.98, reflecting a firmer dollar during the session.
Friday's session showed mixed individual stock outcomes amid broader sector pressure, with gains concentrated in select pharmaceuticals, retail and utilities names, and heavier losses in major technology and telecom companies. Commodity prices and currency moves reinforced the downward tone for Finnish equities at the close.