Norway stocks higher at close of trade; Oslo OBX up 0.84%

Norwegian equities ended Wednesday's trading session on a positive note, driven upward by strength in the healthcare equipment and services, pharma biotech and life sciences, and utilities sectors.

At the closing bell in Oslo, the Oslo OBX index had advanced by 0.84%.

Equinor ASA (OL:EQNR) turned in the day's strongest performance on the Oslo OBX, jumping 4.24% or 16.90 points to close at 415.40. Hafnia Ltd (OL:HAFNI) also posted solid gains, adding 3.30% or 2.65 points to finish at 83.00, while Var Energi ASA (OL:VAR) rose 3.03% or 1.56 points to 53.06 in late trading.

On the downside, Cmb.Tech NV (OL:CMBT) slumped 1.56% or 2.80 points to end at 176.80, making it the session's worst performer. Orkla ASA (OL:ORK) declined 1.56% or 1.45 points to close at 91.25, and Nel ASA (OL:NEL) gave back 1.43% or 0.03 points to settle at 2.07.

Across the Oslo Stock Exchange, falling issues outnumbered advancing ones by a margin of 133 to 115, with 31 stocks closing unchanged.

Orkla ASA (OL:ORK) shares dropped to a 52-week low, slipping 1.56% or 1.45 points to 91.25. In contrast, Var Energi ASA (OL:VAR) shares surged to an all-time high, gaining 3.03% or 1.56 points to end at 53.06.

In commodities, crude oil for October delivery climbed 3.46% or 3.22 to $96.25 per barrel. Brent crude for November delivery advanced 3.29% or 3.22 to $101.14 a barrel, while December gold futures rose 0.55% or 24.57 to trade at $4,463.57 per troy ounce.

EUR/NOK slipped 0.08% to 10.70, and USD/NOK declined 0.16% to 9.19.

The U.S. Dollar Index futures were down 0.15% at 98.63.