Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Utilities, Consumer Services and Healthcare sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 gained 0.59% to hit a new 1-month high.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG), which rose 3.54% or 0.94 points to trade at 27.46 at the close. Meanwhile, Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) added 2.26% or 0.23 points to end at 10.18 and Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) was up 1.80% or 10.80 points to 610.80 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS), which fell 1.95% or 1.10 points to trade at 55.40 at the close. Solvay SA (EBR:SOLB) declined 0.64% or 0.20 points to end at 30.96 and Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) was down 0.47% or 0.33 points to 70.23.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 60 to 35 and 12 ended unchanged.
Shares in Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) rose to all time highs; rising 1.80% or 10.80 to 610.80.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 1.24% or 32.84 to $2,673.84 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 2.61% or 1.87 to hit $73.59 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 2.30% or 1.72 to trade at $76.36 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.87% to 1.03, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.24% to 0.83.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.77% at 109.13.