Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Utilities, Basic Materials and Financials sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 added 1.25% to hit a new 3-months high.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were NV Bekaert SA (BR:BEKB), which rose 3.66% or 1.46 points to trade at 41.20 at the close. Meanwhile, Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) added 2.81% or 0.83 points to end at 30.53 and KBC (BR:KBC) was up 2.21% or 1.160 points to 53.570 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG), which fell 0.43% or 0.220 points to trade at 51.000 at the close. Ageas (BR:AGES) declined 0.07% or 0.025 points to end at 35.920 and Etablissementen Fr Colruyt NV (BR:COLR) was up 0.30% or 0.16 points to 54.13.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 98 to 46 and 13 ended unchanged.
Shares in NV Bekaert SA (BR:BEKB) rose to 3-years highs; up 3.66% or 1.46 to 41.20.
Gold for August delivery was down 0.15% or 1.85 to $1245.55 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in July rose 0.72% or 0.36 to hit $50.05 a barrel, while the August Brent oil contract rose 1.11% or 0.56 to trade at $51.11 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.02% to 1.1353, while EUR/GBP fell 0.84% to 0.7797.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.15% at 93.89.