Belgium’s blue-chip BEL 20 index closed 1.11% higher on Friday, extending gains to a one-month peak as shares in consumer goods, healthcare and basic materials led advances.
On the Brussels Stock Exchange, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 63 to 24, with 16 stocks unchanged. The BEL 20, which tracks the 20 largest listed companies on Euronext Brussels, added 1.11 points to end the session at a fresh one-month high.
Among the top performers, steel producer Aperam SA climbed 3.64% to 45.02 euros, while diversified materials group Umicore SA rose 2.41% to 22.96 euros. Auto distributor D’Ieteren NV gained 2.12% to 178.30 euros in late trade.
On the downside, grid operator Elia Group slipped 0.39% to 126.50 euros, while chipmaker Melexis NV and specialty chemicals distributor Azelis Corporate Services NV were flat at 65.00 euros and 11.84 euros, respectively.
Commodities showed broad strength, with December gold futures surging 2.25% to a record $4,674.31 per troy ounce. October Brent crude oil futures rose 0.58% to $94.32 per barrel, while October WTI crude added 0.05% to $86.87 per barrel. The U.S. Dollar Index futures fell 0.09% to 98.72, while the euro held steady against the dollar at 1.17 and the pound at 0.86.
