Stock Markets July 23, 2026 12:05 PM

AEX Ends Lower as Consumer Services, Financials and Industrials Weigh on Market

Major declines push Amsterdam benchmark down 1.28% while oil jumps and gold retreats

By Maya Rios
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The AEX closed 1.28% lower on Thursday as losses in Consumer Services, Financials and Industrials pressured the market. Decliners outpaced advancers by a wide margin. Energy-linked commodities strengthened, with U.S. crude and Brent rising sharply, while gold futures slipped. Currency and volatility measures showed little net movement.

AEX Ends Lower as Consumer Services, Financials and Industrials Weigh on Market
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Key Points

  • AEX closed down 1.28%, ending at 1,086.67, as losses in Consumer Services, Financials and Industrials weighed on the index.
  • Top AEX gainers included SBM Offshore (AS:SBMO), Warehouses de Pauw (EBR:WDPP) and Shell (AS:SHEL); largest decliners included BE Semiconductor Industries (AS:BESI), Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize (AS:AD) and DSM Firmenich (AS:DSFIR).
  • Commodities moved sharply: U.S. crude (September) rose to $92.24/b, Brent (September) reached $100.54/b, while August gold futures fell to $4,051.15/troy ounce; currency and volatility readings were largely unchanged.

Netherlands equities closed the session weaker on Thursday, with the AEX index sliding 1.28% as declines across Consumer Services, Financials and Industrials pushed the benchmark lower.

At the Amsterdam close the AEX stood at 1,086.67, down 14.14 points, representing a 1.28% retreat from the previous session.

Among individual stocks, SBM Offshore NV (AS:SBMO) was the top performer on the AEX, advancing 2.66% or 0.88 points to finish at 33.94. Warehouses de Pauw Comm VA (EBR:WDPP) rose 1.52% or 0.34 points to close at 22.74, and Shell PLC (AS:SHEL) added 1.40% or 0.54 points to end the day at 39.20.

On the downside, BE Semiconductor Industries NV (AS:BESI) registered the largest drop, losing 7.34% or 18.20 points to close at 229.90. Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV (AS:AD) fell 5.59% or 2.00 points to 33.77, and DSM Firmenich AG (AS:DSFIR) declined 5.22% or 4.44 points to finish at 80.64.

By the close, decliners outnumbered advancers on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange by 76 to 19, with 12 issues unchanged.

Market volatility as measured by the AEX Volatility index was unchanged at 21.09.

Commodity markets showed marked moves during the session. U.S. crude oil for September delivery rose 6.23% or $5.41 to $92.24 a barrel. Brent oil for September delivery climbed 6.88% or $6.47 to $100.54 a barrel. In precious metals, the August Gold Futures contract fell 2.43% or $100.75 to trade at $4,051.15 a troy ounce.

In currency trading, EUR/USD was unchanged 0.33% at 1.14, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.20% at 0.85. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures was higher, up 0.34% at 101.30.


Index and market snapshots from the session included: AEX -1.28%, SHEL +1.4%, SBMO +2.66%, AD -5.59%, BESI -7.34%, DX +0.31%, GC -2.37%, LCO +6.54%, CL +5.83%, WDPP +1.52%, VAEX 0.00%, NLCS -2.7%, NLFIN -1.74%, NLIN -1.43%, DSFIR -5.22%.

The market closed with investors facing a mix of strong commodity moves and broad equity weakness, as more stocks fell than rose and implied option volatility held steady.

Risks

  • Broad equity weakness with decliners outnumbering advancers 76 to 19 indicates continued downside risk for the general market - sectors affected include Consumer Services, Financials and Industrials.
  • Substantial rises in crude and Brent oil prices could introduce energy-cost pressure that may affect corporate margins and market sentiment - sectors impacted include energy and industrials.
  • A decline in gold futures highlights volatility in commodity demand and could reflect shifting investor risk preferences - this affects materials and commodities-linked portfolios.

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