Amsterdam - Dutch equities finished the session in positive territory on Tuesday, with the AEX index closing up 0.18%. Strength in the Consumer Services, Healthcare and Real Estate sectors provided upward momentum for the market.
The session's leading performer was DSM Firmenich AG (AS:DSFIR), which jumped 7.80% - a rise of 5.18 points - to finish at 71.60. Beverage giant Heineken (AS:HEIN) also moved higher, gaining 3.58% or 2.38 points to close at 68.84. Consumer staples name Unilever PLC (AS:ULVR) added 2.40%, an increase of 1.17 points, ending the day at 49.65.
Not all stocks participated in the rally. Steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) was the largest decliner on the AEX, dropping 3.98% or 2.34 points to close at 56.40. Energy major Shell PLC (AS:SHEL) fell 1.63% or 0.61 points to 36.84, while Universal Music Group NV (AS:UMG) slipped 1.24% or 0.23 points to finish at 17.95.
Market breadth was slightly negative at the close, with 53 stocks down, 49 advancing and 6 unchanged on the Amsterdam exchange.
Measures of investor expectations for future AEX moves were unchanged. The AEX Volatility index, which reflects implied volatility in AEX options, was flat at 21.09, showing no change for the session.
Commodity markets saw notable weakness. Crude oil for July delivery fell 5.21%, a decline of $4.76, to trade at $86.54 per barrel. Brent crude for August delivery dropped 4.29%, or $4.04, to $90.21 per barrel. In precious metals trading, the August Gold Futures contract retreated 1.60%, down $69.98, to trade at $4,293.42 a troy ounce.
Foreign exchange rates showed limited movement. EUR/USD was effectively unchanged at 1.16, with a reported variation of 0.16%. EUR/GBP was also unchanged at 0.86, quoted with the same 0.16% figure. The US Dollar Index Futures moved lower by 0.16%, settling at 99.86.
With modest gains on the main index and divergent sector performance, the session highlighted selective buying in consumer and healthcare-related names, while energy and materials faced pressure amid falling commodity prices.