Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Basic Materials, Consumer Goods and Utilities sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 gained 0.59% to hit a new 5-year high.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Solvay SA (BR:SOLB), which rose 2.72% or 3.20 points to trade at 120.85 at the close. Meanwhile, Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) added 2.66% or 0.83 points to end at 32.08 and Umicore NV (BR:UMI) was up 2.06% or 1.11 points to 54.97 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG), which fell 4.37% or 3.580 points to trade at 78.320 at the close. NV Bekaert SA (BR:BEKB) declined 2.59% or 1.20 points to end at 45.05 and Aperam (AS:APAM) was down 1.31% or 0.61 points to 45.90.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 71 to 42 and 10 ended unchanged.
Shares in Solvay SA (BR:SOLB) rose to 52-week highs; rising 2.72% or 3.20 to 120.85.
Gold Futures for June delivery was down 0.52% or 6.49 to $1250.51 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June fell 0.10% or 0.05 to hit $47.61 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract rose 0.12% or 0.06 to trade at $50.52 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.09% to 1.0920, while EUR/GBP rose 0.09% to 0.8456.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.13% at 98.91.