Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Utilities, Technology and Basic Materials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 added 0.81%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Umicore NV (BR:UMI), which rose 2.72% or 1.74 points to trade at 65.60 at the close. Meanwhile, Engie SA (PA:ENGIE) added 2.67% or 0.39 points to end at 14.79 and NV Bekaert SA (BR:BEKB) was up 2.42% or 0.98 points to 41.63 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Etablissementen Fr Colruyt NV (BR:COLR), which fell 0.44% or 0.20 points to trade at 46.90 at the close. Ackermans V.Haaren (BR:ACKB) declined 0.39% or 0.55 points to end at 140.25 and Sofina (BR:SOF) was down 0.36% or 0.45 points to 123.75.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 65 to 49 and 6 ended unchanged.
Shares in Engie SA (PA:ENGIE) rose to 52-week highs; rising 2.67% or 0.39 to 14.79.
Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.92% or 12.31 to $1351.31 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in October unchanged 0.00% or 0.00 to hit $49.16 a barrel, while the November Brent oil contract rose 0.31% or 0.17 to trade at $54.37 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.75% to 1.2006, while EUR/GBP rose 0.51% to 0.9184.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.64% at 91.62.