On Thursday, the Spanish stock market registered solid gains, culminating in a 1.28% increase in the IBEX 35 index by the end of trading in Madrid. Investor enthusiasm was notably buoyed by strong performances in the Financial Services & Real Estate, Consumer Services, and Building & Construction sectors, which collectively supported the market's upward momentum.
Among the IBEX 35 constituents, ArcelorMittal SA (BME:MTS) distinguished itself as the top performer, climbing 6.34% or 2.76 points to settle at 46.32. Following closely, Puig Brands SA (BME:PUIGb) experienced a 4.42% gain, adding 0.71 points to finish at 16.76. Additionally, Acerinox (BME:ACX) rose 4.19%, up 0.54 points to close at 13.43, marking a strong session for steel and consumer goods companies.
On the other hand, the energy sector faced setbacks, with Repsol (BME:REP) retreating 2.76%, or 0.44 points, to end the day at 15.69. Bankinter (BME:BKT), a key player in banking, dropped 1.72%, losing 0.25 points to finish at 13.98, while Amadeus IT (BME:AMA) edged down slightly by 0.24% or 0.14 points to close at 57.62. This session also saw broad market breadth, with 161 stocks advancing compared to 35 decliners and 20 remaining unchanged.
Notably, shares in ArcelorMittal SA reached a five-year high, reflecting strong investor confidence in its outlook and sector positioning. In contrast, Amadeus IT's shares declined to a 52-week low, signaling challenges within the travel technology segment.
In commodity markets, Gold Futures for February delivery posted an increase of 0.88%, gaining 42.60 points to $4,880.10 per troy ounce, underscoring a demand for safe-haven assets. Conversely, energy commodities reflected bearish sentiments: crude oil for March delivery declined by 1.93% to $59.45 per barrel, and Brent crude also dropped 1.81% to trade at $64.06 a barrel, suggesting downward pressure on energy prices.
Currency pairs exhibited minimal change, with the EUR/USD rate largely steady at 1.17 after a nominal 0.42% rise and EUR/GBP unchanged near 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures declined slightly by 0.34% to 98.22, indicating modest weakening in the dollar against a basket of currencies.