Belgium's equity market ended the session lower on Thursday, with the benchmark BEL 20 falling 3.07% at the close in Brussels. Broad weakness in the Basic Materials, Healthcare and Industrials sectors contributed to the downward move.
Within the BEL 20, D'Ieteren NV (EBR:IETB) was among the better performers, advancing 2.58% - a gain of 4.60 points - to finish at 182.70. Ackermans & Van Haaren NV (EBR:ACKB) rose 1.43% or 4.20 points to close at 298.00, and Groep Brussel Lambert NV (EBR:GBLB) added 1.31% or 1.10 points to end the session at 85.35.
At the other end of the spectrum, Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) posted the steepest decline, plunging 30.64% or 24.08 points to close at 54.52. Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) fell 8.19% - a drop of 58.20 points - to finish at 652.00, while UCB SA (EBR:UCB) lost 7.90% or 21.30 points to trade at 248.40 at the close.
Market breadth on the Brussels Stock Exchange was narrowly positive in terms of issues rising versus falling, with 47 stocks higher, 43 lower and 15 unchanged.
Two BEL 20 components hit notable peaks during the session: shares of Ackermans & Van Haaren reached all-time highs, closing up 1.43% or 4.20 at 298.00, and Groep Brussel Lambert climbed to three-year highs, gaining 1.31% or 1.10 to 85.35.
Commodities and currencies showed mixed moves alongside the equity action. Gold Futures for April delivery declined 0.53% or 27.89 to $5,198.31 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for April delivery rose 1.44% or 0.94 to $66.36 a barrel, and the May Brent contract increased 1.74% or 1.23 to $71.92 a barrel.
On foreign exchange, EUR/USD was effectively flat, recorded as unchanged 0.19% to 1.18, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.25% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.16%, trading at 97.78.
Taken together, the session combined notable single-stock moves with broader sector pressure, producing a meaningful daily drop in the BEL 20 while some names still managed gains or multi-year highs.