The Brussels stock exchange began the new year with gains, with the Bel20 index rising by 0.56% on Thursday to close at 4,289.52 points.
Leading the index shares was Galapagos. The biotech company, which performed poorly last year, shot up by 3.54% to €27.46.
Umicore, another company that did not fare well in 2024, followed. The metal group rose by 2.26% to €10.18.
In the broader market, Deme gained 6.53%, closing at €146.80. The stock was recommended by analyst Paul D’Hoore.
Vastned climbed by 5.43% to €29.10. Real estate investor Vastned Belgium completed the acquisition of its Dutch parent company, Vastned, and adopted its name.
Among the index shares, the biggest loss was Melexis. The chip designer for the automotive sector fell by 1.95%, closing at €55.40.
Among the smaller values, Sequana Medical dropped 19.93% to end on €2.45.
