Belgian shares finished Thursday on an uptick, with the BEL 20 index closing 0.46% higher and registering a one-month high in Brussels. Sector advances in Utilities, Healthcare and Consumer Goods were the primary contributors to the positive performance.
Top and bottom movers
The strongest performers on the BEL 20 included Elia (EBR:ELI), which gained 2.34% or 3.20 points to close at 139.90. Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) added 1.95% or 0.18 points to finish at 9.40, while Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) rose 1.89% or 0.95 points to end the day at 51.30.
On the downside, Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) fell 1.69% or 0.95 points to close at 55.35. Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) declined 1.42% or 0.25 points to 17.40, and Groep Brussel Lambert NV (EBR:GBLB) was down 1.35% or 1.10 points to 80.40.
Market breadth and notable highs
Declining issues outnumbered advancing issues on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 49 to 45, and 13 stocks finished unchanged. Elia not only led the day in percentage terms, it also moved up to a three-year high, gaining 2.34% or 3.20 to close at 139.90.
Commodities and currency moves
Commodity markets showed notable moves alongside the equity gains. Gold futures for June delivery rose 0.91% or 43.62 to $4,820.82 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for May delivery climbed 4.23% or 3.99 to $98.40 a barrel, while the June Brent contract gained 1.18% or 1.12 to trade at $95.87 a barrel.
In foreign exchange trading, EUR/USD was unchanged 0.39% to 1.17, and EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.05% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.42% at 98.51.
Takeaway
The session closed with the BEL 20 higher and several individual names posting meaningful moves, while commodity and currency markets showed mixed activity. The pattern of sector leadership and the market breadth figures provide a snapshot of a market with pockets of strength amid selective weakness.