Norway's stock market finished slightly higher on Monday, with the Oslo OBX posting a 0.29% gain at the close. Sector strength in Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities provided upward momentum across the index.
The session's top performers on the Oslo OBX included Gjensidige Forsikring ASA (OL:GJFG), which rose 2.71% or 7.20 points to finish at 272.60. Frontline Ltd (OL:FRO) advanced 2.13% or 5.50 points to end the day at 263.40, while Telenor ASA (OL:TEL) gained 1.36% or 2.10 points to close at 157.00.
Not all names moved higher. The weakest showings were posted by Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OL:NOD), down 1.79% or 2.40 points to 131.70 at the close. Aker BP ASA (OL:AKRBP) declined 1.29% or 3.60 points to finish at 275.90, and Var Energi ASA (OL:VAR) slipped 1.09% or 0.38 points to close at 34.33.
Market breadth on the Oslo Stock Exchange was tilted toward falling issues, with 138 stocks decreasing in price versus 127 gainers; 20 stocks finished unchanged.
Commodity markets registered mixed moves alongside Oslo trading. Crude oil for March delivery fell 0.72% or 0.44 to trade at $60.63 a barrel, while Brent oil for April delivery lost 0.54% or 0.35 to $64.72 a barrel. Gold futures for April saw a notable rise, increasing 2.25% or 112.66 to trade at $5,129.66 a troy ounce.
In currency markets, the euro strengthened versus the krone, with EUR/NOK up 0.51% to 11.60. USD/NOK rose 0.13% to 9.75. The US Dollar Index Futures moved lower, down 0.73% at 96.69.
This session reflected modest upward pressure in Oslo driven by select defensive and healthcare-related sectors, while energy and semiconductor names weighed on the market's breadth. Movements in oil, gold and major exchange rates accompanied the equity picture.