Helsinki - Stocks across Finland closed higher on Tuesday, driven by sector strength in Oil & Gas, Utilities and Technology.
At the market close in Helsinki the benchmark OMX Helsinki 25 rose 0.86%.
Leading the index were a group of notable winners. Neste Oyj (HE:NESTE) posted the strongest gain, rising 5.71% - an increase of 1.55 points - to finish at 28.69. Qt Group Oyj (HE:QTCOM) added 4.63% or 0.91 points to close at 20.58. Fortum Oyj (HE:FORTUM) advanced 3.11%, up 0.67 points to end the day at 22.22.
On the downside, SSAB AB B (HE:SSABBH) was the weakest name among the large-cap stocks in the session, slipping 3.06% or 0.20 points to 6.34 at the close. Metso Oyj (HE:METSO) declined 1.83%, down 0.28 points to 15.06, while Huhtamaki Oyj (HE:HUH1V) fell 0.70% or 0.20 points to 28.46.
Market breadth on the Helsinki Stock Exchange showed more advancing issues than decliners, with 93 stocks rising, 77 declining and 18 finishing unchanged.
Certain stocks reached notable highs during the session. Neste's share price extended to a 52-week high as it climbed 5.71% to 28.69. Fortum also reached a multi-year milestone, trading at a three-year high after appreciating 3.11% to 22.22.
Commodities moved higher on the day. Brent crude for May delivery rose 1.82% or 1.82 to trade at $102.03 a barrel. U.S. crude for May delivery increased 2.02% or 1.87 to $94.33 a barrel. The April gold futures contract ticked up 0.08% or 4.21 to trade at 5,006.41 a troy ounce.
Currency markets were relatively subdued. EUR/USD registered a change of 0.19% to 1.15, while EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged at 0.86, moving 0.01%. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures was down 0.09% at 99.38.
Summary of movers and market context:
- Top gainers: Neste (HE:NESTE), Qt Group (HE:QTCOM), Fortum (HE:FORTUM).
- Top decliners: SSAB AB B (HE:SSABBH), Metso (HE:METSO), Huhtamaki (HE:HUH1V).
- Breadth: 93 advancers, 77 decliners, 18 unchanged on the exchange.
The session combined sector-specific strength with modest moves in commodity and currency markets, leaving the main Helsinki benchmark higher at the close.