Portugal's stock market closed slightly in the red on Monday as sector losses in Utilities, Basic Materials and Telecoms weighed on the benchmark PSI index. At the Lisbon closing bell, the PSI had slipped 0.15%.
Among the session's strongest performers was CTT Correios de Portugal SA (CTT), which climbed 1.49% - a gain of 0.10 points - to finish at 6.79. Ibersol SGPS (IBS) also posted a positive result, gaining 0.93% or 0.10 points to close at 10.85. Jeronimo Martins SGPS SA (JMT) moved higher as well, rising 0.63% - up 0.14 points - to end the day at 22.46.
On the downside, EDP Renovaveis (EDPR) led declines, falling 1.69% or 0.23 points to a closing price of 13.37. The Navigator Company SA (NVGR) lost 1.45% - down 0.05 points - to 3.27 at the close, while Teixeira Duarte (TDSA) slipped 1.35% or 0.01 points to finish at 0.44.
Market breadth on the Lisbon exchange favored advancing names, with 19 stocks rising versus 10 that fell; three issues ended the session unchanged.
Commodities trading showed further movement that accompanied local equities. Brent crude for May delivery declined 1.22%, a drop of $1.26, taking it to $101.88 per barrel. U.S. crude for May delivery recorded a larger fall of 2.71%, down $2.62 to $94.22 per barrel. Precious metals also eased, with the April Gold Futures contract down 1.18% - a fall of 59.76 - to trade at $5,001.94 a troy ounce.
Currency markets were notable during the session. The euro strengthened against the U.S. dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.74% to 1.15. EUR/GBP was essentially unchanged, moving 0.08% to 0.86. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures fell 0.52%, settling at 99.58.
The trading day combined modest domestic equity declines with notable moves in energy, precious metals and major currency pairs, leaving the PSI slightly down at the close in Lisbon.