Belgium stocks were higher after the close on Wednesday, as gains in the Consumer Services, Industrials and Financials sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Brussels, the BEL 20 gained 1.76% to hit a new 5-year high.

The best performers of the session on the BEL 20 were Anheuser Busch Inbev SA NV (EBR:ABI), which rose 8.56% or 4.48 points to trade at 56.80 at the close. Meanwhile, Solvay SA (EBR:SOLB) added 4.38% or 1.35 points to end at 32.18 and KBC Groep NV (EBR:KBC) was up 3.37% or 2.74 points to 84.08 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Azelis Corporate Services NV (EBR:AZE), which fell 2.74% or 0.53 points to trade at 18.81 at the close. Lotus Bakeries (EBR:LOTB) declined 2.68% or 240.00 points to end at 8,700.00 and Warehouses de Pauw Comm VA (EBR:WDPP) was down 1.80% or 0.38 points to 20.76.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Brussels Stock Exchange by 56 to 41 and 10 ended unchanged.

Shares in KBC Groep NV (EBR:KBC) rose to 3-years highs; up 3.37% or 2.74 to 84.08.

Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.35% or 10.09 to $2,928.89 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April fell 0.09% or 0.06 to hit $68.87 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract fell 0.30% or 0.22 to trade at $72.28 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.01% to 1.05, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.22% to 0.83.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.03% at 106.20.