Belgium Stocks Rise at Market Close; BEL 20 Up 0.61%

Belgium’s stock market showed favorable growth following the close on Thursday, with significant gains in various sectors pushing shares higher.

At the conclusion of trading in Brussels, the index climbed 0.61%, reaching a new 52-week peak.

Among the day’s top performers were Umicore SA, which saw an increase of 3.00%, or 0.33 points, closing at 11.33. Syensqo SA followed closely, up 2.88% or 2.09 points, finishing at 74.61. Solvay SA also made notable gains, rising 2.52% or 0.85 points, to end the day at 34.58.

Conversely, the session saw some weaker stocks. Elia experienced a drop of 2.01%, or 2.10 points, closing at 102.60. Galapagos NV declined 1.54%, or 0.42 points, ending at 26.92, while Proximus NV fell by 1.33%, or 0.10 points, to finish at 7.06.

On the Brussels Stock Exchange, advancing stocks outnumbered those that declined by a margin of 62 to 30, with 17 stocks remaining unchanged.

In the commodities market, gold futures for December delivery rose by 0.60%, equating to an increase of 15.55, reaching $2,614.15 per troy ounce. Additionally, crude oil for November delivery climbed 2.16%, or 1.51, hitting $71.39 per barrel, while the November Brent oil contract advanced 1.91%, or 1.41, trading at $75.06 per barrel.

In currency trading, EUR/USD remained stable, rising 0.29% to 1.12, while EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.84.

The US Dollar Index Futures showed a slight increase of 0.15%, reaching a value of 100.43.