Last month, the BEL20 Index raised by 1.5%, representing a 13% gain since it reached its lowest level on 22 March 2001. The Brussels All Shares Price and Return Index went up by 1.5% each. The Small Caps Index climbed by 5%. The sector indices Health, Chemicals, Food Producers & Processors and Banks increased by respectively 3.30%, 3.16% and twice 2.28%.
On 31 July 2001, the total market capitalisation of the Belgian listed companies amounted to 175,184.61 million EUR, an increase of 3.52% compared to last month when a Market capitalisation of 169,323.36 million EUR was reached. 47% of this total has been traded by the five biggest market capitalisations : 22.02 billion EUR (Dexia), 20.51 billion EUR (Fortis), 13.47 billion EUR (Electrabel), 13. 33 billion EUR (KBC) and 12.87 billion EUR (Interbrew).
During the month of July, a total turnover of 3,452.67 million EUR was reached. The average daily turnover amounted to 156.94 million EUR. Fortis B was the most traded share with a total monthly volume of 792.68 million EUR followed by Dexia (379.37 million EUR), UCB(315.20 milllion EUR), Delhaize Le Lion (281.86 milllion EUR) and Electrabel (260.44 milllion EUR).
The Derivatives Market
The derivatives of Euronext Brussels recorded a rather calm activity during this first month of the holiday period with a total of 201,847 contracts traded. The miniâ Dow-Jones Euro Stoxx 50SM option and the equity options on Mobistar, Dexia and Fortis closed this month on a positive note with respectively a rise of 10.2%, 14.3%,153.5% and 267.3% compared to last month. The top 3 of most actively traded stock options this month were Fortis with 9,121 contracts traded followed by Dexia with 5,922 contracts traded and UCB with 2,623 contracts traded. End July, the open interest amounted to 1,176,971 contracts.
