Spain's stock market closed lower on Friday, with the IBEX 35 falling 0.73% at the Madrid session's end. Sector pressure was concentrated in Consumer Services, Financial Services & Real Estate and Consumer Goods, which collectively contributed to the downward momentum across the index.
On the winners' side, Acciona (BME:ANA) posted the session's largest gain, jumping 12.28% - an increase of 27.00 points - to finish at 246.80. Telefonica (BME:TEF) advanced 5.62%, or 0.21 points, closing at 3.85. Real estate firm Merlin Properties SA (BME:MRL) also moved higher, up 5.60% or 0.80 points to end the day at 15.09.
Lagging stocks included International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A. (BME:ICAG), which fell 7.83% or 0.41 points to close at 4.83. Grifols SA (BME:GRLS) declined 3.97%, a drop of 0.44 points, to 10.63. Banco Santander (BME:SAN) eased 2.78% or 0.31 points to finish at 10.79.
Market breadth in Madrid was moderately positive in terms of the number of issues: 101 stocks rose versus 93 that fell, while 19 equities ended unchanged.
Two of the day's gainers reached record levels. Acciona's shares rose to an all-time high, closing at 246.80 after the 12.28% advance. Merlin Properties SA likewise touched an all-time high, ending at 15.09 following its 5.60% gain.
Commodities and foreign-exchange moves accompanied the equity action. Gold futures for April delivery increased 1.08%, up 56.01 to $5,250.21 per troy ounce. In energy markets, April delivery crude oil rose 2.32%, or $1.51, to $66.72 per barrel, while the May Brent contract climbed 2.33% or $1.65 to trade at $72.49 per barrel.
Currency pairs were relatively steady: the euro versus the U.S. dollar was essentially unchanged, moving 0.25% to 1.18, and the euro versus the British pound showed little change, up 0.45% to 0.88. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures dipped 0.20% to 97.54.
Session context
- IBEX 35 closed down 0.73% in Madrid.
- Top performers included Acciona, Telefonica and Merlin Properties SA.
- Notable decliners were International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A., Grifols SA and Banco Santander.