Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Technology, Utilities and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 rose 0.07%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Engie SA (PA:ENGIE), which rose 1.26% or 0.17 points to trade at 13.66 at the close. Meanwhile, Umicore SA (BR:UMI) added 0.54% or 0.27 points to end at 50.14 and KBC (BR:KBC) was up 0.51% or 0.340 points to 66.660 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were bpost NV (BR:BPOST), which fell 1.88% or 0.28 points to trade at 14.65 at the close. Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) declined 1.44% or 1.280 points to end at 87.620 and Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) was down 1.34% or 0.30 points to 22.10.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 64 to 45 and 20 ended unchanged.
Shares in bpost NV (BR:BPOST) fell to 3-years lows; down 1.88% or 0.28 to 14.65. Shares in Umicore SA (BR:UMI) rose to 5-year highs; up 0.54% or 0.27 to 50.14.
Gold Futures for August delivery was unchanged 0.00% or 0.00 to $1301.40 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 1.73% or 1.12 to hit $65.85 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract rose 2.11% or 1.59 to trade at $76.95 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.36% to 1.1816, while EUR/GBP rose 0.22% to 0.8798.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.26% at 93.37.