Belgian equity markets finished higher on Tuesday, with sector gains concentrated in Healthcare, Financials and Industrials pushing the benchmark upward.
The BEL 20 index rose 1.20% by the close in Brussels, marking a new all-time high for the benchmark.
Among individual movers, Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) led the winners, advancing 4.90% - a gain of 34.20 points - to finish at 732.20. Elia (EBR:ELI) also posted a solid advance, adding 2.55% or 3.00 points to close at 120.50. KBC Groep NV (EBR:KBC) climbed 2.37%, up 2.75 points to end the session at 119.00.
On the downside, Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) was the largest decliner among the listed names cited, slipping 1.96% or 0.16 points to close at 8.02. Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) fell 1.93%, a decline of 1.40 points, to finish at 71.28. Solvay SA (EBR:SOLB) lost 1.75%, down 0.46 points to 25.84.
Market breadth on the Brussels Stock Exchange was positive, with 55 issues finishing higher versus 38 that declined, while 19 shares were unchanged at the close.
Notable price milestones included Elia reaching a 52-week high as it rose 2.55% to 120.50, and KBC Groep NV moving to an all-time high after a 2.37% gain to 119.00.
Commodities and currency markets showed mixed movement alongside the equity advance. Gold futures for April delivery were down 0.07%, falling by 3.36 to trade at 5,118.94 per troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 2.31%, up 1.40 to $62.03 a barrel, while the April Brent contract increased 2.07%, or 1.34, to $66.11 a barrel.
Foreign-exchange rates moved as well: the euro strengthened against the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.86% to 1.20, while EUR/GBP was essentially flat, changing 0.12% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures finished lower, down 0.84% at 96.04.
Summary of session:
- The BEL 20 closed at a record high, supported by sector gains in Healthcare, Financials and Industrials.
- Argen-X, Elia and KBC Groep were among the session's top performers; Azelis, Syensqo and Solvay were among the laggards.
- Commodity and currency fluctuations accompanied the equity moves, with oil prices higher and gold slightly lower.