Belgium's equity market closed in negative territory on Thursday, with pressure concentrated in the Consumer Services, Utilities and Consumer Goods sectors. At the Brussels close the BEL 20 declined 1.54%.
On an individual stock basis, Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) finished as one of the session's top performers, gaining 1.44% - an increase of 0.30 points - to settle at 21.08. Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) also posted a gain, adding 0.39% or 0.30 points to close at 77.00, while Ageas (EBR:AGES) finished unchanged at 67.30, reflecting a 0.00% move.
At the other end of the spectrum, Solvay SA (EBR:SOLB) recorded the steepest drop, tumbling 7.35% or 2.12 points to end the session at 26.74. Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) declined 2.69% or 0.29 points to 10.51, and Montea C.V.A. (EBR:MONTE) fell 2.68% or 1.90 points to close at 68.90.
Market breadth favored decliners on the Brussels exchange, where 70 stocks fell versus 26 advancers and 12 issues that finished unchanged.
Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) also marked a 52-week high during the session, rising 0.39% or 0.30 points to reach 77.00.
Commodities and currencies showed divergent moves alongside equities. Gold Futures for June delivery rose 0.84% or 39.29 to trade at $4,733.59 a troy ounce. In energy markets, June delivery crude oil slipped 1.44% or $1.37 to $93.71 a barrel, and the July Brent contract fell 1.82% or $1.84 to $99.43 a barrel.
In FX, EUR/USD was reported unchanged at 0.13%, quoted at 1.18, while EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.07% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures sat down 0.04% at 97.83.
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