Belgian shares finished the trading session in negative territory on Friday, as weakness in Healthcare, Beverage and Travel & Leisure stocks pushed the benchmark lower. At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 index was down 0.14%.
Among individual performers, Lotus Bakeries (EBR:LOTB) led the winners on the BEL 20, adding 3.53% - a rise of 360.00 points - to finish at 10,560.00. Ackermans & Van Haaren NV (EBR:ACKB) also posted gains, climbing 2.33% or 6.00 points to close at 263.00, while Ageas (EBR:AGES) advanced 1.37% - up 0.85 points - to end the session at 63.00.
On the downside, Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) recorded the steepest fall among the BEL 20 constituents, shedding 2.85% or 20.40 points to trade at 695.60 at the close. UCB SA (EBR:UCB) declined 2.31% - a loss of 6.20 points - to finish at 262.00, and Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS) slipped 1.92% or 1.50 points to 76.58.
Market breadth on the Brussels Stock Exchange favored advancers: 58 issues rose compared with 31 that fell, while 19 were unchanged.
Several stocks reached notable price milestones during the session. Lotus Bakeries rose to 52-week highs, advancing 3.53% or 360.00 to 10,560.00. Ackermans & Van Haaren recorded an all-time high, climbing 2.33% or 6.00 to 263.00. Ageas moved up to 5-year highs after gaining 1.37% or 0.85 to 63.00.
Commodities trading showed strength alongside the equity session. Gold Futures for April delivery were up 1.90% or 93.09, trading at $4,982.59 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 1.39% or 0.88 to $64.17 a barrel, while the April Brent contract increased 1.44% or 0.97 to trade at $68.52 a barrel.
Major currency pairs were largely unchanged on the day. EUR/USD was reported unchanged at 0.30% to 1.18, and EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.21% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures moved lower, down 0.17% at 97.54.
Summary - Friday’s close in Brussels reflected a modest decline for the BEL 20 amid sector-specific weakness. Strength in select consumer and financial-related names contrasted with losses in healthcare and pharmaceutical-related stocks, while commodities posted gains and the dollar retreated slightly in futures trading.