BEL 20 rises 0.5 percent as ECB decision nears

Published on 10/29/2026 at 13:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

BEL 20 trades at 5,845 points before the ECB's 2:15 p.m. CET decision, with Belgian inflation at 5.26 percent today.

Rates and inflation

BEL 20 stands at 5,845 points at 1:13 p.m. CET, up 29 points or 0.5 percent on October 29, 2026.
The ECB decision is due at 2:15 p.m. CET after Belgian inflation reached 5.26 percent.
UCB leads BEL 20 gainers with a 2.9 percent advance, while Anheuser-Busch InBev falls 2.6 percent.
The ECB press conference follows at 2:45 p.m. CET on October 29, 2026.

BEL 20, BE0389555039, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

The BEL 20 is trading at 5,845 points at 1:13 p.m. CET on October 29, 2026, up 29 points or 0.5 percent from the previous close. The European Central Bank is due to announce its policy decision at 2:15 p.m. CET, with markets focused on the rate outlook.

UCB is the strongest identified BEL 20 mover, rising 2.9 percent at 1:12 p.m. CET. Anheuser-Busch InBev is down 2.6 percent at 1:14 p.m. CET. Their moves come as European equities trade ahead of the ECB decision, MarketScreener reports.

Why is the BEL 20 higher before the ECB decision?

The BEL 20 has gained 52 points from its 5,792-point open. It has traded between 5,790 and 5,860 points during the session. The ECB decision is the main scheduled event for European markets this afternoon.

Belgian consumer inflation reached 5.26 percent in October, up from 4.69 percent previously, according to Newsquawk. The data adds an inflation focus to the rate decision.

BEL 20 movers before the ECB announcement

UCB up 2.9 percent at 1:12 p.m. CET, finance data shows.
argenx up 1.1 percent at 1:14 p.m. CET, finance data shows.
KBC Group down 0.4 percent at 1:14 p.m. CET, finance data shows.
Anheuser-Busch InBev down 2.6 percent at 1:14 p.m. CET, finance data shows.

What comes next for the BEL 20

October 29, 2026, 2:15 p.m. CET: ECB interest-rate decision, MarketScreener reports.
October 29, 2026, 2:45 p.m. CET: ECB President Christine Lagarde's press conference, The Industry Spread reports.

BEL 20 price data for October 29, 2026

The BEL 20 stood at 5,845 points at 1:13 p.m. CET on October 29, 2026, according to finance data. It was up 29 points or 0.5 percent from the previous close of 5,816 points. The index opened at 5,792 points and traded between 5,790 and 5,860 points.

BEL 20 by the numbers on October 29, 2026

Index: BEL 20
Home exchange: Euronext Brussels, Belgium
Level at 1:13 p.m. CET on October 29, 2026: 5,845 points
Change versus previous close of October 28, 2026: up 29 points (up 0.5 percent)
Previous close: 5,816 points
Open: 5,792 points
Day high / day low: 5,860 points / 5,790 points
Top gainer: UCB up 2.9 percent
Top loser: Anheuser-Busch InBev down 2.6 percent
Next scheduled event: October 29, 2026, 2:15 p.m. CET: ECB interest-rate decision