Netherlands stocks closed higher after trading on Tuesday, driven by strength in the Technology, Basic Materials and Oil & Gas sectors.
At the close in Amsterdam, the AEX rose 1.26%.
The top performers on the AEX were Prosus (AS:PRX), which gained 9.37% or 3.65 points to finish at 42.60. ASML Holding NV (AS:ASML) advanced 4.86% or 67.80 points to close at 1,461.80, and Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT) increased 4.51% or 0.62 points to 14.41 in late trade.
On the downside, Wolters Kluwer (AS:WLSNc) was the weakest name on the index, sliding 3.72% or 2.38 points to end at 61.66. SBM Offshore NV (AS:SBMO) fell 3.25% or 1.12 points to 33.30, while Relx PLC (AS:REL) declined 2.71% or 0.80 points to 28.74.
Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange by 55 to 48, with 7 shares finishing unchanged.
Shares of ASML Holding NV (AS:ASML) rose to an all-time high, gaining 4.86% or 67.80 points to 1,461.80.
The AEX Volatility index, which measures implied volatility in AEX options, was unchanged at 0.00% and stood at 21.09.
Commodity markets were firmer at the close in Amsterdam. Crude oil for July delivery rose 0.48% or 0.44 to $92.60 a barrel. Brent oil for August delivery increased 0.35% or 0.33 to $95.31 a barrel. The August Gold Futures contract was up 0.54% or 24.55, trading at $4,530.85 a troy ounce.
Foreign exchange moves were modest: EUR/USD was unchanged, up 0.06% to 1.16, and EUR/GBP was unchanged, up 0.02% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures was lower by 0.04%, at 99.11.
Market participants leaving the session saw a broadly positive AEX reading, paced by sizeable moves in a handful of large-cap names. Technology-related strength, a notable single-stock advance in Prosus and ASML's record-setting close were among the session's prominent developments. Energy and precious metals markets contributed incremental upward pressure on sentiment via higher crude and gold prices.