Moroccan equities ended the trading session lower on Tuesday, with the Moroccan All Shares index retreating 1.18% at the close in Casablanca. Sector pressure from Utilities, Banking and Mining was cited as the primary driver of the overall decline.
Among individual issues, Maghreb Oxygene (CSE:MOX) led the winners, rising 5.96% - a gain of 23.00 points - to finish at 409.00. Auto Hall (CSE:ATH) also posted a strong performance, adding 5.60% or 4.45 points to close at 83.95. Delta Holding S.A (CSE:DHO) rounded out the top performers, climbing 4.65% - up 2.49 points - to 55.99 by late trade.
On the downside, SMI (CSE:SMI) was the session's weakest name, sinking 8.69% or 669.00 points to end at 7,031.00. Lesieur Cristal (CSE:LES) fell 5.78% - down 24.00 points - to 391.00, while Managem (CSE:MNG) slipped 5.26% or 565.00 points to close at 10,180.00.
Market breadth favored decliners, with 42 stocks closing lower versus 12 that advanced, and 6 issues finishing unchanged on the Casablanca Stock Exchange.
Commodities trading showed mixed results during the session. Crude oil for May delivery jumped 4.56%, gaining $5.13 to settle at $117.54 a barrel. Brent crude for June delivery rose 1.56% - an increase of $1.71 - to $111.48 a barrel. Precious metals moved in the opposite direction, with the June Gold Futures contract declining 0.53% or $24.65 to trade at $4,660.05 a troy ounce.
Currency pairs involving the Moroccan dirham also recorded small shifts. The euro-to-dirham rate (EUR/MAD) was up 0.17% at 10.83, while the dollar-to-dirham rate (USD/MAD) edged down 0.13% to 9.37. In broader FX markets, the US Dollar Index Futures fell 0.02% to 99.79.
The session's combination of sector-specific weakness, commodity price movements and modest currency fluctuations contributed to a generally negative close for Moroccan equities.