Brussels, Belgium - The BEL 20 ended Tuesday's trading session down 2.13%, closing at a fresh one-month low after broad weakness across several sectors. Losses were concentrated in Utilities, Industrials and Consumer Goods, which collectively weighed on the benchmark.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 recorded a 2.13% decline, settling at the lowest level reached in the past month. Market breadth was tilted decisively to the downside: 78 stocks fell, 21 advanced and 13 finished unchanged on the Brussels Stock Exchange.
Top performers
- Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) was the session's top gainer on the BEL 20, rising 3.92% or 1.92 points to end at 50.92.
- UCB SA (EBR:UCB) also recorded gains, adding 1.32% or 3.30 points to close at 252.90.
- Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) finished the session down 0.77% or 5.00 points, trading at 644.40 in late trade.
Largest declines
- Elia (EBR:ELI) led losers, falling 6.48% or 8.70 points to close at 125.60.
- Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) declined 5.43% or 0.98 points to finish at 17.06.
- Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) slipped 5.20% or 0.42 points to 7.66.
Notably, shares of Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE) traded down to new all-time lows during the session, closing at 7.66 after a 5.20% decline.
Commodities and currencies
Commodities showed divergent moves: Gold Futures for April delivery fell sharply, down 4.03% or 214.19 to $5,097.41 a troy ounce. By contrast, crude oil was stronger, with April delivery rising 6.44% or 4.59 to $75.82 a barrel and the May Brent contract increasing 6.51% or 5.06 to trade at $82.80 a barrel.
In foreign exchange markets, EUR/USD moved lower by 0.80% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP was essentially flat, listed as unchanged 0.10% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.83% to 99.15.
This session's price action left the BEL 20 at a one-month low, with sectoral weakness concentrated in Utilities, Industrials and Consumer Goods and with notable moves in commodities and major currency pairs contributing to the trading backdrop.