Investing.com – Belgium stocks were lower after the close on Friday, as losses in the Consumer Services, Technology and Financials sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 lost 0.22%.
The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Umicore NV (BR:UMI), which rose 1.60% or 0.80 points to trade at 50.48 at the close. Meanwhile, NV Bekaert SA (BR:BEKB) added 0.86% or 0.35 points to end at 41.66 and Proximus NV (BR:PROX) was up 0.68% or 0.20 points to 28.73 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Galapagos NV (AS:GLPG), which fell 1.50% or 0.725 points to trade at 47.525 at the close. Ageas (BR:AGES) declined 1.20% or 0.370 points to end at 30.435 and Delhaize Group (BR:DELB) was down 1.13% or 1.15 points to 100.70.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 82 to 54 and 9 ended unchanged.
Shares in Umicore NV (BR:UMI) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 1.60% or 0.80 to 50.48.
Gold for August delivery was down 0.16% or 2.15 to $1330.05 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in August rose 0.33% or 0.15 to hit $45.83 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract rose 0.42% or 0.20 to trade at $47.57 a barrel.
EUR/USD was down 0.55% to 1.1060, while EUR/GBP rose 1.01% to 0.8404.
The US Dollar Index was up 0.56% at 96.64.