The Portuguese PSI index closed the session in negative territory, with a 0.04% decline to 9,401.50 points, diverging from the positive sentiment that dominated the main European stock exchanges. Despite the 2.5% gain in BCP, which closed at 1.1495 euros, nine PSI-listed companies ended the session in the red. Among the stocks that rose the most, CTT Correios de Portugal (+0.77%) and REN (+0.43%) stood out, while the biggest declines included Altri (-1.58%), EDP Renováveis (-1.05%), The Navigator (-0.86%), Jerónimo Martins (-0.83%) and Sonae (-0.74%).
European markets mostly closed higher, with the Stoxx 600 rising 0.49%, the EuroStoxx 50 advancing 0.32% to 6,382.59 points, the FTSE 100 gaining 0.70% to 10,831.52 points, the CAC 40 up 0.07% to 8,286.40 points, the DAX rising 0.63% to 26,003.32 points, the FTSE MIB up 0.88% to 52,245.47 points and the IBEX 35 in Madrid being the session's highlight with a 1.12% gain to 20,000.20 points.
Optimism on European stock exchanges was driven by comments from US Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, who expressed optimism about the improvement in inflationary pressures and showed willingness to support maintaining interest rates. This outlook led to a retreat in sovereign debt yields across Europe, with the German 10-year yield at 3.34%, the Portuguese at 3.67%, the Spanish at 3.78% and the Italian at 4.16%.
In the commodities market, Brent crude closed at $95.45, down 0.18%. The cryptocurrency Bitcoin rose nearly 5% and again surpassed the $80,000 barrier (approximately €69,000), a level not reached since May.
