Stock Markets February 16, 2026

AEX edges down as consumer and health names weigh; mixed moves across commodities and FX

Amsterdam benchmark closes slightly lower as three sectors lead declines while select large caps post gains

By Caleb Monroe MT
AEX edges down as consumer and health names weigh; mixed moves across commodities and FX
MT

Netherlands stocks closed modestly lower Monday, with the AEX finishing down 0.07%. Losses were concentrated in the Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Consumer Services sectors even as several large-cap names advanced. Volatility on AEX options was unchanged, while crude and Brent oil rose and gold futures fell. Key currency pairs moved little and the U.S. Dollar Index Futures ticked higher.

Key Points

  • The AEX closed down 0.07% as losses in Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Consumer Services weighed on the index.
  • Top gainers included Aegon (AS:AEGN), Adyen (AS:ADYEN) and ArcelorMittal (AS:MT), while Universal Music Group (AS:UMG), IMCD (AS:IMCD) and Wolters Kluwer (AS:WLSNc) were the biggest decliners.
  • Commodities and FX showed mixed moves: crude and Brent oil rose, gold futures fell, major EUR crosses were largely unchanged and the U.S. Dollar Index Futures strengthened slightly.

Netherlands equities finished the trading day marginally lower on Monday, with the AEX slipping 0.07% at the Amsterdam close. Market breadth was roughly balanced, but losses in a handful of sectors were sufficient to push the benchmark into negative territory.

Among the top performers on the AEX, Aegon Ltd (AS:AEGN) led gains, rising 2.49% or 0.16 points to finish at 6.60. Payments group Adyen NV (AS:ADYEN) added 2.32% or 20.80 points to close at 918.00, while ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) climbed 2.07% or 1.08 points to end the day at 53.22.

On the downside, Universal Music Group NV (AS:UMG) recorded the largest drop, falling 4.73% or 0.95 points to close at 19.15. IMCD NV (AS:IMCD) declined 3.99% or 3.66 points to 87.98, and Wolters Kluwer (AS:WLSNc) lost 3.65% or 2.34 points to finish at 61.84.

At the exchange level, rising stocks narrowly outnumbered decliners, with 50 advancing, 49 falling and 7 finishing unchanged. Universal Music Group’s share price also reached a 52-week low during the session, reflecting the scale of its move.

Measure of implied option volatility for the AEX, the AEX Volatility index, was flat for the session, unchanged 0.00% at 21.09.

Commodity markets showed divergent action. Crude oil for April delivery gained 1.08% or 0.68 to trade at $63.43 a barrel, while Brent oil for April added 1.02% or 0.69 to reach $68.44 a barrel. By contrast, the April Gold Futures contract fell 0.66% or 33.29 to trade at $5,013.01 a troy ounce.

Major currency pairs exhibited limited movement. EUR/USD was effectively flat, unchanged 0.13% at 1.19, and EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.02% at 0.87. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures was up 0.17% at 96.98.


Summary of session data is consistent with a modestly negative close for the Dutch market, with a handful of notable winners offset by several larger declines. The session featured mixed signals from commodities and little change in major FX crosses, while implied volatility on AEX options remained steady.

Risks

  • Declines concentrated in Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Consumer Services sectors contributed to the AEX’s downward move, indicating sector-specific weakness.
  • Universal Music Group hit a 52-week low, reflecting notable pressure on that stock and potential volatility within the media/music segment.
  • Although implied volatility on AEX options was unchanged at 21.09, divergent moves in commodities and currency pairs create an uncertain backdrop for market participants.

More from Stock Markets

Indigenous Occupation Halts Operations at Cargill’s Santarem Terminal Feb 21, 2026 Market Turbulence Reinforces Case for Broader Diversification Feb 21, 2026 NYSE Holdings UK Ltd launches unified trading platform to streamline market access Feb 21, 2026 Earnings Drive Weekly Winners and Losers as Buyout Headlines Lift Masimo Feb 21, 2026 Barclays Sees 'Physical AI' Scaling to Hundreds of Billions by 2035 Feb 21, 2026