Belgian equities finished the session higher after the close on Tuesday, led by gains in the Utilities, Industrials and Consumer Services sectors. The benchmark BEL 20 index rose 0.74% to record a new all-time high at the close in Brussels.
Among the strongest performers on the BEL 20, Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) advanced 3.38% - a 0.66 point increase - to close at 20.18. Ageas (EBR:AGES) added 2.78% or 1.70 points to finish at 62.75. Ackermans & Van Haaren NV (EBR:ACKB) extended gains of 2.31% - 5.80 points - to settle at 257.20 in late trade.
Not all components moved higher. Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS) was the session's weakest performer on the BEL 20, sliding 3.78% or 2.40 points to end at 61.05. Sofina (EBR:SOF) declined 2.70% - a drop of 6.60 points - to close at 237.40, and Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) gave up 0.54% or 0.05 points to trade at 8.24.
Market breadth in Brussels was tilted toward advancers: rising stocks outnumbered decliners by 54 to 47, while 13 issues finished unchanged. Within that context, Ackermans & Van Haaren (EBR:ACKB) reached an all-time high during the session, matching the company's 2.31% gain and the 257.20 closing price.
Commodity markets displayed notable moves alongside the equity advance. Gold Futures for April delivery were markedly higher, up 6.97% or 324.30 to $4,976.90 per troy ounce. In the oil complex, crude oil for March delivery gained 0.79% or 0.49 to $62.63 a barrel, while the April Brent contract rose 0.59% or 0.39 to $66.69 a barrel.
Foreign exchange trading was relatively stable. The euro was largely unchanged versus major peers: EUR/USD moved 0.31% to 1.18, while EUR/GBP was essentially flat at 0.86 with a 0.03% move. The US Dollar Index Futures declined 0.27% to 97.22.
Context and market implications
The session's advance, concentrated in Utilities, Industrials and Consumer Services, helped push the BEL 20 to a fresh high without a broad-based sweep across all names. While several heavyweight components posted gains and one constituent hit a record intraday level, a handful of other index members retreated, leaving the market with a measured risk-on tone by close.