Investing.com - Sweden's stock market finished the session lower on Wednesday, with the OMX Stockholm 30 index ending the day down 0.77% following weakness concentrated in the Financials, Healthcare and Basic Materials sectors.
At the close in Stockholm, the benchmark OMX Stockholm 30 had slipped 0.77% from its previous level.
Among the index constituents, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson Class B (ST:ERICb) was one of the session's stronger performers, advancing 1.49% or 1.55 points to finish at 105.90. The share rise pushed Ericsson to a three-year high, according to intraday price action. Hexagon AB ser. B (ST:HEXAb) also gained ground, adding 1.44% or 1.40 points to close at 98.90, while H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB B (ST:HMb) edged up 0.28% or 0.50 points to end the day at 181.10.
On the downside, EQT AB (ST:EQTAB) led losses after falling 3.11% or 8.80 points to trade at 274.20 at the close. SAAB AB ser. B (ST:SAABb) declined 2.80% or 19.10 points to finish at 663.90, and Essity AB B (ST:ESSITYb) was down 1.86% or 4.90 points to 258.50.
Market breadth was decisively negative: falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Stockholm Stock Exchange by 441 to 277, with 75 issues finishing unchanged.
Commodities exhibited notable moves during the session. Crude oil for April delivery rose 4.13% or 3.45 to $86.90 a barrel. Brent oil for May delivery climbed 4.53% or 3.98 to $91.78 a barrel. Meanwhile, the April Gold Futures contract fell 1.10% or 57.80 to trade at $5,184.30 a troy ounce.
In currency markets, the euro-denominated krona exchange rate (EUR/SEK) appreciated 0.20% to 10.67, while the dollar-denominated krona rate (USD/SEK) rose 0.52% to 9.22. The US Dollar Index Futures was stronger as well, gaining 0.40% to 99.21.
Overall, the session left the Swedish benchmark lower, with sector-level weakness in Financials, Healthcare and Basic Materials exerting the largest downward pressure, even as a handful of large-cap names recorded modest gains.