Moroccan stocks finished the trading session lower on Thursday, with sector losses in Utilities, Banking and Mining contributing to a modest overall retreat. At the close in Casablanca the Moroccan All Shares index was down 0.10%.
Among individual performers, Residences Dar Saada SA (CSE:RDS) led the gainers, advancing 4.50% - a rise of 7.20 points - to finish at 167.20. Micro Data SA (CSE:MIC) also posted a solid increase, adding 2.63% or 20.00 points to end the session at 780.00, while IB Maroc Com SA (CSE:IBC) rose 1.81% - up 1.23 points - to close at 69.00.
The weakest stocks of the day included Lesieur Cristal (CSE:LES), which declined 2.26% or 9.00 points to trade at 389.00 at the close. Ste Nationale de Siderurgie SA (CSE:SID) fell 2.23% - a loss of 48.00 points - ending the session at 2,105.00, and Marocaine pour le Commerce et l’Industrie Banque SA (CSE:BCI) slipped 1.48% or 9.00 points to 586.00.
Market breadth on the Casablanca Stock Exchange reflected the decline: 30 stocks fell versus 23 that rose, while 8 issues finished unchanged.
Commodities showed mixed direction during the session. Crude oil for June delivery increased 0.77% - up $0.72 - to $93.68 a barrel. Brent crude for June delivery rose 1.10% or $1.12 to $103.03 a barrel. By contrast, the June Gold Futures contract slipped 0.14% - down $6.70 - to trade at $4,746.30 per troy ounce.
Currency pairs involving the Moroccan dirham moved in small increments. The euro-denominated dirham rate (EUR/MAD) declined 0.19% to 10.83, while the dollar-denominated pair (USD/MAD) was effectively flat, changing 0.01% to 9.26. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.01% at 98.43.
Session takeaway - The market closed marginally lower as sectoral weakness in Utilities, Banking and Mining outweighed gains in several individual stocks. Trading breadth was tilted toward decliners, and commodity and currency moves were modest but varied.