Benelux shares close higher; Dexia, Fortis head gainers UPDATE (AFX)

BRUSSELS (Thomson Financial) - Shares closed higher, boosted by Wall Street gains, with financial services groups Dexia (Brussels: DEXB.BR - news) and telecoms group KPN (Amsterdam: KPN.AS - news) leading the blue-chips. At the close, the Bel 20 was up 85.87 points or 2.81 percent at 3,114.82, while the AEX (Amsterdam: news) was up 5.18 points or 1.29 percent at 405.38. Dexia was up 0.59 euro or 6.98 percent at 9.04 euros. Dexia was cut to 'hold' from 'buy' at SG Securities, with its target cut to 7.60 euros from 15.00. Peer Fortis was up 0.47 euro or 4.87 percent at 10.12 euros. KBC Group was up 3.09 euros or 4.56 percent at 70.89 euros. Brewer InBev was up 1.54 euros or 3.70 percent at 43.14 euros. InBev (Brussels: ) was up 0.48 euro or 0.97 percent at 50.00 euros. The mobile telecoms group will post first-half results on... [read full story]