Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Basic Materials, Financials and Technology sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 fell 0.40%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Aperam SA (AS:APAM), which rose 3.32% or 1.54 points to trade at 47.90 at the close. Meanwhile, Telenet Group (BR:TNET) added 2.91% or 1.75 points to end at 61.95 and Sofina (BR:SOF) was up 1.30% or 1.80 points to 140.40 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX), which fell 4.64% or 1.16 points to trade at 23.82 at the close. Umicore SA (BR:UMI) declined 1.49% or 0.64 points to end at 42.36 and ING Groep NV (AS:INGA) was down 1.48% or 0.238 points to 15.830.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 68 to 45 and 15 ended unchanged.
Shares in Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) fell to 52-week lows; losing 4.64% or 1.16 to 23.82. Shares in Telenet Group (BR:TNET) rose to all time highs; up 2.91% or 1.75 to 61.95. Shares in Sofina (BR:SOF) rose to all time highs; rising 1.30% or 1.80 to 140.40.
Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.35% or 4.70 to $1340.10 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 0.05% or 0.03 to hit $64.47 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract rose 0.10% or 0.07 to trade at $68.59 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.26% to 1.2435, while EUR/GBP fell 0.10% to 0.8757.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.18% at 88.86.