Netherlands shares ended Thursday’s trading session slightly in the red as sector-level weakness in Technology, Construction & Materials and Support Services weighed on the benchmark AEX index. At the close in Amsterdam the AEX declined 0.04%.
Among individual stocks, ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) was the session’s top performer on the AEX, rising 6.34% or 3.30 points to finish at 55.34. Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT) added 3.32% or 0.52 points to close at 16.23. Heineken (AS:HEIN) also recorded gains, finishing up 2.95% or 2.20 points at 76.68 in late trade.
Conversely, a number of technology- and equipment-related names led the decliners. BE Semiconductor Industries NV (AS:BESI) dropped 6.96% or 19.60 points to settle at 262.00. ASM International NV (AS:ASMI) fell 5.62% or 55.80 points to end at 937.20. ASML Holding NV (AS:ASML) was down 3.89% or 63.80 points to 1,577.80.
Market breadth on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange was positive by count, with 66 stocks advancing, 29 declining and 9 finishing unchanged.
The AEX Volatility gauge, which measures the implied volatility of AEX options, remained unchanged at 21.09, representing a 0.00% move on the session.
Commodities trading saw crude oil for August delivery slip 0.99% or 0.68 to $67.90 a barrel. Brent oil for September delivery fell 0.92% or 0.66 to $70.91 a barrel. In precious metals, the August Gold Futures contract rose 1.34% or 54.60 to trade at $4,137.00 a troy ounce.
In foreign exchange, EUR/USD was up 0.57% to 1.14, while EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged, moving 0.04% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.60% at 100.55.
Market snapshot
- AEX close: 1,072.74, down 0.40 points (-0.04%).
- Advancers vs decliners on the Amsterdam exchange: 66 vs 29; 9 unchanged.
- AEX Volatility: unchanged at 21.09.
The session illustrated a divergence between selective winners among industrial and consumer names and notable weakness in several technology and semiconductor-related stocks. Movements in oil and gold, as well as modest shifts in major currency pairs, accompanied the equity moves during the session.