Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Technology, Utilities and Financials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 lost 0.24%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Solvay SA (BR:SOLB), which rose 1.76% or 2.00 points to trade at 115.90 at the close. Meanwhile, Ontex Group (BR:ONTEX) added 1.72% or 0.49 points to end at 29.05 and Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) was up 0.43% or 0.280 points to 65.170 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were ING Groep NV (AS:INGA), which fell 1.57% or 0.215 points to trade at 13.455 at the close. NV Bekaert SA (BR:BEKB) declined 1.46% or 0.62 points to end at 41.74 and Engie SA (PA:ENGIE) was down 1.03% or 0.12 points to 11.08.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 61 to 50 and 8 ended unchanged.
Shares in Solvay SA (BR:SOLB) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 1.76% or 2.00 to 115.90.
Gold Futures for April delivery was down 0.13% or 1.65 to $1239.95 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in March fell 0.51% or 0.27 to hit $53.09 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 0.22% or 0.12 to trade at $55.53 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.53% to 1.0617, while EUR/GBP fell 0.07% to 0.8541.
The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.41% at 100.86.