Spain's benchmark IBEX 35 closed lower on Thursday, retreating 0.82% as a trio of sectors - Financial Services & Real Estate, Building & Construction and Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic - exerted downward pressure on the market.
At the Madrid close, the benchmark index registered the session's decline amid mixed stock performance across major names. The best performers on the IBEX 35 were Redeia Corporacion SA (BME:REDE), which advanced 2.14% - rising 0.33 points to finish at 15.77; Cellnex Telecom SA (BME:CLNX), which added 1.88% or 0.54 points to close at 29.34; and Telefonica (BME:TEF), up 1.81% or 0.07 points to end the day at 3.71.
Conversely, the heaviest losses were concentrated among a set of large-cap names. ArcelorMittal SA (BME:MTS) slid 4.79%, down 2.64 points to close at 52.52. SOLARIA ENERGIA Y MEDIO AMBIENTE (BME:SLRS) fell 4.73%, a decline of 0.89 points to 17.93, while Amadeus IT (BME:AMA) dropped 2.70%, or 1.36 points, to finish at 49.02.
Market breadth in Madrid skewed negative with 109 stocks closing lower versus 73 that rose; 21 issues finished unchanged.
Notably, shares of Amadeus IT reached three-year lows during the session, closing down 2.70% or 1.36 to 49.02.
Commodities and currency markets also moved during the trading day. Gold Futures for April delivery declined 2.27% - a drop of 115.59 - to settle at $4,982.91 per troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery fell 2.82% or $1.82 to $62.81 a barrel, while the April Brent contract lost 2.71% or $1.88 to trade at $67.52 a barrel.
Currency pairs were largely unchanged: EUR/USD was effectively flat, shifting 0.03% to 1.19, and EUR/GBP also moved 0.03% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was higher by 0.12%, trading at 96.84.
Summary of key movements:
- IBEX 35 -0.82% at the Madrid close.
- Top gainers: Redeia Corporacion SA (+2.14%), Cellnex Telecom SA (+1.88%), Telefonica (+1.81%).
- Top decliners: ArcelorMittal SA (-4.79%), SOLARIA (-4.73%), Amadeus IT (-2.70%).
- Market breadth: 109 decliners, 73 advancers, 21 unchanged.
- Commodities: April Gold -2.27% to $4,982.91/oz; March Crude -2.82% to $62.81/bbl; April Brent -2.71% to $67.52/bbl.
- Currencies: EUR/USD +0.03% to 1.19; EUR/GBP +0.03% to 0.87; US Dollar Index Futures +0.12% at 96.84.