Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Healthcare, Telecoms and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 added 0.45% to hit a new 52-week high.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Melexis NV (EBR:MLXS), which rose 3.25% or 2.50 points to trade at 79.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Ackermans & Van Haaren NV (EBR:ACKB) added 2.52% or 4.30 points to end at 174.90 and Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) was up 1.74% or 7.70 points to 451.40 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Proximus NV (EBR:PROX), which fell 11.29% or 0.87 points to trade at 6.80 at the close. Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) declined 5.00% or 0.69 points to end at 13.11 and Warehouses de Pauw Comm VA (EBR:WDPP) was down 3.63% or 0.94 points to 24.96.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 52 to 38 and 15 ended unchanged.
Shares in Ackermans & Van Haaren NV (EBR:ACKB) rose to 52-week highs; up 2.52% or 4.30 to 174.90. Shares in Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) fell to 5-year lows; falling 5.00% or 0.69 to 13.11.
Gold Futures for August delivery was up 1.33% or 31.25 to $2,384.75 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in September fell 1.43% or 1.12 to hit $77.16 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract fell 1.55% or 1.28 to trade at $81.09 a barrel.
EUR/USD was unchanged 0.13% to 1.09, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.04% to 0.84.
The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.04% at 104.06.