Belgium stocks higher at close of trade; BEL 20 up 0.57%

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

At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 added 0.57%.

The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Syensqo SA (EBR:SYENS), which rose 2.51% or 1.73 points to trade at 70.66 at the close. Meanwhile, Umicore SA (EBR:UMI) added 2.15% or 0.21 points to end at 9.98 and Sofina (EBR:SOF) was up 2.05% or 5.00 points to 248.60 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were D’Ieteren NV (EBR:IETB), which fell 1.40% or 2.80 points to trade at 197.20 at the close. Argen-X (EBR:ARGX) declined 1.18% or 5.80 points to end at 486.00 and Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG) was down 0.91% or 0.24 points to 26.06.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 63 to 38 and 9 ended unchanged.

Shares in Sofina (EBR:SOF) rose to 52-week highs; up 2.05% or 5.00 to 248.60.

Gold Futures for December delivery was up 1.51% or 38.30 to $2,580.70 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in October rose 3.13% or 2.11 to hit $69.42 a barrel, while the November Brent oil contract rose 2.65% or 1.87 to trade at $72.48 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.32% to 1.10, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.05% to 0.84.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.17% at 101.49.