Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Consumer Goods, Utilities and Telecoms sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 declined 0.25%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Aperam SA (AS:APAM), which rose 1.66% or 0.75 points to trade at 45.92 at the close. Meanwhile, KBC (BR:KBC) added 1.31% or 1.000 points to end at 77.200 and Umicore SA (BR:UMI) was up 0.87% or 0.38 points to 43.69 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX), which fell 4.21% or 1.14 points to trade at 25.92 at the close. Ackermans V.Haaren (BR:ACKB) declined 1.76% or 2.70 points to end at 150.90 and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA (BR:GBLB) was down 1.12% or 1.08 points to 95.24.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 59 to 49 and 20 ended unchanged.
Shares in Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) fell to 52-week lows; down 4.21% or 1.14 to 25.92. Shares in KBC (BR:KBC) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 1.31% or 1.000 to 77.200.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.29% or 4.00 to $1360.30 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March rose 0.52% or 0.34 to hit $65.95 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.58% or 0.41 to trade at $70.94 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.64% to 1.2489, while EUR/GBP rose 0.47% to 0.8755.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.53% at 88.55.