Stock Markets March 3, 2026

AEX drops 2.55% as basic materials, real estate and tech lead declines

ArcelorMittal and major banks weigh on Amsterdam bourse while energy and currencies post notable moves

By Leila Farooq MT
AEX drops 2.55% as basic materials, real estate and tech lead declines
MT

The Amsterdam exchange closed lower on Tuesday, with the AEX sliding 2.55% as losses were concentrated in Basic Materials, Real Estate and Technology sectors. Decliners outnumbered advancers by a wide margin, while oil rallied and gold registered a steep decline. Currency markets saw the euro weaken against the dollar.

Key Points

  • AEX closed down 2.55% with Basic Materials, Real Estate and Technology leading losses.
  • Relx PLC was the top gainer on the AEX, while ArcelorMittal, ING Groep and ASML were among the largest decliners.
  • Oil futures rose sharply while gold futures fell and the euro weakened versus the US dollar.

Netherlands equities finished the trading session in Amsterdam lower on Tuesday, with the AEX index ending the day down 2.55%.

The decline was driven by losses across several sectors, most notably Basic Materials, Real Estate and Technology, which together pushed the benchmark lower into the close.


Top performers

  • Relx PLC (REL) was the session's strongest name on the AEX, rising 1.22%, or 0.36 points, to close at 29.84.
  • Jde Peets Nv (JDEP) finished unchanged for the day at 31.76, recording a 0.00% move.
  • Wolters Kluwer (WLSNc) slipped slightly, down 0.15%, or 0.10 points, to 68.06 at the close.

Largest decliners

  • ArcelorMittal SA (MT) posted the heaviest loss, falling 7.63%, or 4.16 points, to finish at 50.38.
  • ING Groep NV (INGA) declined 4.27%, or 1.02 points, to close at 22.88.
  • ASML Holding NV (ASML) was down 4.02%, or 48.60 points, settling at 1,161.80.

Market breadth was heavily tilted to the downside: 91 stocks declined versus 8 that advanced, while 6 shares finished unchanged on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

The AEX Volatility index, which tracks the implied volatility of options on the AEX, was unchanged on the day at 21.09, recording a 0.00% move.


Commodities and currencies

Energy contracts moved sharply higher. Crude oil for April delivery rose 6.68%, or 4.76, to trade at $75.99 a barrel. Brent oil for May delivery increased 6.75%, or 5.25, to $82.99 a barrel.

Precious metals showed a contrasting move: the April Gold Futures contract fell 3.95%, or 209.81, to trade at $5,101.79 a troy ounce.

In foreign exchange markets, EUR/USD was down 0.81% at 1.16, while EUR/GBP was reported unchanged, moving 0.11% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.84% to 99.17.


Overall, the session closed with broad selling pressure on the Amsterdam bourse, led by the Basic Materials, Real Estate and Technology sectors, while commodity and currency moves added further market activity ahead of the next trading day.

Risks

  • Broad market selling pressure as reflected by 91 decliners versus 8 advancers could indicate near-term downside risk for equity sectors such as Basic Materials, Real Estate and Technology.
  • Large moves in commodity markets - notably a double-digit swing for crude and Brent in percentage terms reported here - introduce price volatility that can affect energy and industrial stocks.
  • Currency fluctuations, including a weaker euro against the dollar and a rising US Dollar Index Futures, may create headwinds for euro-denominated assets and exporters.

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