Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Healthcare, Beverage and Travel & Leisure sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 rose 1.28%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Sofina (EBR:SOF), which rose 3.32% or 7.20 points to trade at 224.20 at the close. Meanwhile, Cofinimmo SA (EBR:COFB) added 2.98% or 1.70 points to end at 58.70 and UCB SA (EBR:UCB) was up 2.93% or 3.85 points to 135.25 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Umicore SA (EBR:UMI), which fell 7.53% or 1.23 points to trade at 15.11 at the close. Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) declined 1.64% or 0.40 points to end at 24.00 and Aperam SA (AS:APAM) was down 0.72% or 0.18 points to 24.80.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 67 to 24 and 15 ended unchanged.
Shares in Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) fell to 5-year lows; losing 7.53% or 1.23 to 15.11. Shares in Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) fell to 5-year lows; falling 1.64% or 0.40 to 24.00. Shares in UCB SA (EBR:UCB) rose to all time highs; up 2.93% or 3.85 to 135.25. Shares in Aperam SA (AS:APAM) fell to 52-week lows; losing 0.72% or 0.18 to 24.80.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 1.03% or 24.00 to $2,350.60 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.53% or 0.41 to hit $78.31 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract rose 0.54% or 0.44 to trade at $82.36 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.98% to 1.08, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.17% to 0.84.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 1.21% at 103.93.