Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Basic Materials, Telecoms and Utilities sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 declined 0.37%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were UCB (BR:UCB), which rose 1.17% or 0.80 points to trade at 69.10 at the close. Meanwhile, bpost NV (BR:BPOST) added 0.74% or 0.20 points to end at 27.40 and Ackermans V.Haaren (BR:ACKB) was up 0.53% or 0.80 points to 151.50 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX), which fell 1.86% or 0.50 points to trade at 26.38 at the close. Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) declined 1.85% or 1.700 points to end at 90.020 and Umicore SA (BR:UMI) was down 1.76% or 0.77 points to 43.20.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 70 to 45 and 14 ended unchanged.
Shares in Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) fell to 52-week lows; losing 1.86% or 0.50 to 26.38. Shares in bpost NV (BR:BPOST) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 0.74% or 0.20 to 27.40.
Gold Futures for February delivery was down 0.13% or 1.70 to $1335.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 0.35% or 0.22 to hit $63.95 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 0.19% or 0.13 to trade at $69.28 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.19% to 1.2238, while EUR/GBP fell 0.47% to 0.8846.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.10% at 90.32.