Poland's main equity gauge finished lower on Thursday, with sector-level declines in Energy, Chemicals and Information Technology contributing to the downward move. At the close in Warsaw, the WIG30 index fell 0.14%.
The session saw a mix of strong single-stock performances and sharp declines. Leading the winners on the WIG30 was Polski Koncern Naftowy ORLEN SA (WA:PKN), which rose 3.05% - an increase of 3.30 points - to finish at 111.50. Telecom operator Orange Polska SA (WA:OPL) advanced 2.96% or 0.39 points, closing at 13.39, while Bank Polska Kasa Opieki SA (WA:PEO) gained 1.80% - up 4.10 points - to end the session at 232.20.
Notable declines were concentrated in media, retail and power names. Cyfrowy Polsat SA (WA:CPS) led the laggards, slipping 2.84% or 0.38 points to 12.83. Clothing retailer LPP SA (WA:LPPP) fell 2.66%, a move of 550.00 points, to close at 20,110.00, and power group PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA (WA:PGE) dropped 2.63% or 0.28 points to 10.17.
Market breadth at the Warsaw Stock Exchange skewed negative: falling issues outnumbered advancing ones by 326 to 204, with 113 stocks unchanged at the close.
Commodities and FX snapshot
Energy markets posted gains during the session. Crude oil for April delivery rose 2.31%, gaining $1.50 to reach $66.55 per barrel. Brent oil for April delivery climbed 2.00% or $1.41 to $71.76 per barrel. In metals, the April Gold Futures contract increased 0.26% or $12.86 to trade at $5,022.36 a troy ounce.
Currency moves were modest: the euro strengthened against the zloty, with EUR/PLN up 0.21% at 4.22, while USD/PLN rose 0.34% to 3.59. The US Dollar Index Futures was 0.17% higher at 97.79.
Market context and implications
While the WIG30 delivered only a small negative return for the day, the session featured divergent stock-level outcomes and a clear skew in breadth toward decliners. Orange Polska reached a five-year high, closing at 13.39 after a 2.96% gain, even as other sectors, notably Energy and Information Technology, posted losses.
Investors assessing sector exposures should note the mixed signals: energy-linked instruments moved higher in commodity markets while select energy and utility equities underperformed during the equity session.