Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Chemicals, Basic Materials and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 rose 1.49%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Solvay (BRU:SOLB), which rose 5.32% or 6.55 points to trade at 129.65 at the close. Meanwhile, Ackermans V.Haaren (BRU:ACKB) added 1.88% or 2.35 points to end at 127.25 and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert SA (BRU:GBLB) was up 1.71% or 1.24 points to 73.90 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Delta Lloyd (AMS:DLL), which rose 0.08% or 0.01 points to trade at 15.10 at the close. Befimmo-Sicafi (BRU:BEFBb) added 0.11% or 0.060 points to end at 56.900 and DIeteren SA (BRU:IETB) was up 0.61% or 0.205 points to 34.005.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 120 to 47 and 7 ended unchanged.
Shares in Ackermans V.Haaren (BRU:ACKB) rose to all time highs; rising 1.88% or 2.35 to 127.25.
Gold for August delivery was up 0.68% or 8.00 to $1185.60 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 1.10% or 0.66 to hit $60.80 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.73% or 0.47 to trade at $65.36 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.11% to 1.1292, while EUR/GBP fell 0.59% to 0.7290.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.35% at 94.83.