Netherlands stocks closed in positive territory on Thursday, with sector strength in Basic Materials, Healthcare and Financials supporting modest gains across the market.
At the end of trading in Amsterdam the AEX rose 0.12% to register a new all-time closing high.
Top performers
- DSM Firmenich AG (AS:DSFIR) led gains on the AEX, increasing 5.32% or 3.60 points to finish at 71.32.
- IMCD NV (AS:IMCD) added 2.77% or 2.54 points to close at 94.20.
- BE Semiconductor Industries NV (AS:BESI) rose 2.04% or 5.40 points to 270.40 in late trade.
Lagging names
- Prosus (AS:PRX) was the heaviest decliner on the AEX, down 2.98% or 1.22 points to 39.60 at the close.
- Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV (AS:AD) slipped 1.44% or 0.54 points to end the session at 37.05.
- Adyen NV (AS:ADYEN) declined 1.39% or 13.30 points to 943.00.
Market breadth in Amsterdam was tilted toward advancers, with 68 stocks rising compared with 33 decliners and 8 shares finishing unchanged.
Shares in BE Semiconductor Industries NV (AS:BESI) climbed to all-time highs, gaining 2.04% or 5.40 to reach 270.40.
The AEX Volatility measure, which reflects implied volatility in AEX options, was unchanged at 21.09, recording a 0.00% move on the day.
Commodities and FX
- Crude oil for July delivery rose 1.69% or 1.66 to trade at $99.92 a barrel.
- Brent oil for July delivery increased 1.25% or 1.31 to $106.33 a barrel.
- The June Gold Futures contract fell 0.83% or 38.03 to trade at $4,519.97 a troy ounce.
In currency markets, EUR/USD was unchanged 0.32% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.06% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.27% to 99.38.
This session's price action saw selective strength among industrial and specialty materials names, while several large-cap technology and retail-related stocks ended lower. Overall, the market produced a modest net advance with volatility measures remaining steady.