Belgium stocks higher at close of trade; BEL 20 up 1.49%

Investing.com – Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Monday, as gains in the Utilities, Healthcare and Consumer Goods sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 gained 1.49% to hit a new 52-week high.

The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Sofina (EBR:SOF), which rose 11.89% or 26.20 points to trade at 246.60 at the close. Meanwhile, D’Ieteren NV (EBR:IETB) added 4.44% or 9.60 points to end at 226.00 and Elia (EBR:ELI) was up 2.33% or 2.40 points to 105.50 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Umicore SA (EBR:UMI), which fell 1.77% or 0.18 points to trade at 9.97 at the close. Ageas (EBR:AGES) declined 0.65% or 0.30 points to end at 46.04 and Aedifica (EBR:AOO) was down 0.08% or 0.05 points to 63.45.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 65 to 28 and 15 ended unchanged.

Shares in Sofina (EBR:SOF) rose to 52-week highs; up 11.89% or 26.20 to 246.60. Shares in Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) fell to 5-year lows; down 1.77% or 0.18 to 9.97. Shares in D’Ieteren NV (EBR:IETB) rose to all time highs; gaining 4.44% or 9.60 to 226.00.

Gold Futures for December delivery was up 0.21% or 5.35 to $2,529.95 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in October rose 1.06% or 0.72 to hit $68.39 a barrel, while the November Brent oil contract rose 0.69% or 0.49 to trade at $71.55 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.33% to 1.10, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.01% to 0.84.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.35% at 101.50.