The closing session of the Spanish stock market on Friday witnessed a downturn, as the IBEX 35 index fell by 0.67%. This decline was primarily influenced by negative performances in sectors including Consumer Services, Financial Services & Real Estate, and Building & Construction.
Among the companies that displayed resilience, SOLARIA ENERGIA Y MEDIO AMBIENTE (BME:SLRS) led gains with a 3.37% increase, ending the day at 18.09 euros, up 0.59 points. Telefonica (BME:TEF) followed with a 1.91% rise to close at 3.37 euros, and Amadeus IT (BME:AMA) advanced 1.74%, reaching 58.62 euros.
Conversely, the main detractors included Acerinox (BME:ACX), which declined 2.38% or 0.32 points to close at 13.11 euros. International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (BME:ICAG) decreased by 2.35%, finishing at 4.82 euros, while insurance company Mapfre (BME:MAP) dropped 2.35% to 3.83 euros.
Market breadth favored decliners with 110 stocks falling against 71 gaining, and 31 closing unchanged on the Madrid Stock Exchange.
Turning to commodities, gold futures for February delivery rose 1.45%, equivalent to 71.41 dollars, reaching 4,984.81 dollars per troy ounce. Crude oil also experienced gains; March delivery for WTI crude increased 2.66% or 1.58 dollars to $60.94 per barrel, while Brent crude for March rose 2.58% or 1.65 dollars to $65.71 per barrel.
In currency markets, the euro demonstrated relative stability. The EUR/USD pair was nearly flat with a 0.24% change, trading near 1.18, and the EUR/GBP stood steady at roughly 0.87 with a 0.51% movement. The US Dollar Index Futures, however, edged down by 0.42% to 97.76.