Netherlands stocks finished the trading session higher on Wednesday, with the AEX gaining 0.48% at the close in Amsterdam. Sector gains in Basic Materials, Telecoms and Oil & Gas provided upward momentum for the index.
Among the most notable performers, Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV (AS:AD) led the winners on the AEX, jumping 11.55% - a gain of 4.01 points - to close at 38.72. The move took Ahold shares to an all-time high at the session close.
Steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) also posted a strong session, rising 4.70% or 2.48 points to finish at 55.24. Consumer goods group Heineken (AS:HEIN) advanced 4.40%, adding 3.28 points to end the day at 77.86.
On the downside, staffing firm Randstad NV (AS:RAND) experienced a steep decline, falling 10.56% or 3.24 points to close at 27.44, marking a five-year low for the stock. Payments company Adyen NV (AS:ADYEN) dropped 6.49%, losing 80.20 points to finish at 1,156.20, while Relx PLC (AS:REL) declined 6.18% or 1.54 points to settle at 23.38, which represented a three-year low.
Market breadth at the Amsterdam Stock Exchange was tilted toward decliners, with 62 stocks falling compared with 33 advancing; 10 stocks ended unchanged.
Other market indicators and commodity prices showed mixed movement. The AEX Volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of AEX options, was unchanged at 21.09.
In commodities, crude oil for March delivery was up 1.78% or 1.14 to $65.10 a barrel. Brent oil for April delivery rose 1.63% or 1.12 to $69.92 a barrel. The April Gold Futures contract increased 1.46% or 73.21 to trade at $5,104.21 a troy ounce.
Currency pairs and the dollar were mostly steady. EUR/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.08% to 1.19, while EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.13% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures ticked up 0.02% to 96.69.
For market participants, the session combined sector-led strength with pronounced stock-specific volatility. Gains in Basic Materials, Telecoms and Oil & Gas supported the AEX, while several large-cap names registered outsized moves in opposite directions.