Stock Markets March 16, 2026

Madrid Stocks Tick Higher as Building and Consumer Names Lead Gains

IBEX 35 closes up 0.18% with Merlin Properties among top performers; Amadeus weighs on the index

By Leila Farooq
Madrid Stocks Tick Higher as Building and Consumer Names Lead Gains

Spain's benchmark index ended Monday marginally higher, powered by advances in Building & Construction, Consumer Services and Consumer Goods. Market breadth favored rising issues, while commodity and foreign exchange moves were mixed heading into the close in Madrid. Key individual movers included Merlin Properties, Puig Brands and Solaria, while Amadeus, Cellnex and Iberdrola were among the laggards.

Key Points

  • IBEX 35 closed up 0.18% at the Madrid session close, led by gains in Building & Construction, Consumer Services and Consumer Goods.
  • Top performers were Merlin Properties (BME:MRL), Puig Brands (BME:PUIGb) and Solaria (BME:SLRS); notable decliners included Amadeus (BME:AMA), Cellnex (BME:CLNX) and Iberdrola (BME:IBE).
  • Commodities and FX showed mixed action: gold and crude oil fell, EUR/USD rose, and the U.S. Dollar Index Futures declined.

Madrid closed modestly positive on Monday as gains in the Building & Construction, Consumer Services and Consumer Goods sectors supported the local market. The IBEX 35 finished the session up 0.18%.

Leading the index's winners was Merlin Properties SA (BME:MRL), which advanced 3.80% - a rise of 0.51 points - to finish at 13.92. Puig Brands SA (BME:PUIGb) followed, adding 2.99% or 0.44 points to close at 15.14, while SOLARIA ENERGIA Y MEDIO AMBIENTE (BME:SLRS) gained 2.88% or 0.60 points to end the day at 21.46.

On the downside, Amadeus IT (BME:AMA) recorded the largest decline on the IBEX 35, falling 1.34% or 0.70 points to finish at 51.52. Cellnex Telecom SA (BME:CLNX) retreated 1.16% - down 0.34 points - to 29.05, and Iberdrola (BME:IBE) slipped 0.45% or 0.09 points to 19.72.

Market breadth in Madrid showed a clear skew toward advancers: 111 stocks rose, 74 fell and 20 closed unchanged.


Commodity markets moved lower on the session. Gold futures for April delivery fell 1.18%, a decline of 59.59, settling at $5,002.11 a troy ounce. U.S. crude oil for May delivery lost 2.72% or $2.63 to trade at $94.21 a barrel, while the May Brent contract declined 1.26% or $1.30 to $101.84 a barrel.

In foreign exchange trading, the euro strengthened against the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.73% to 1.15. EUR/GBP was reported unchanged 0.08% at 0.86. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures moved lower as well, down 0.52% to 99.59.

Overall, the session delivered a modest upside for the IBEX 35, driven by select gains among real estate and consumer-facing companies, while certain technology and utility names underperformed. The mix of movements across commodities and currencies added to a varied market backdrop as trading concluded in Madrid.

Risks

  • Volatility in commodity markets - declines in gold and crude oil could influence sectors tied to energy and resources.
  • Currency swings - movements in EUR/USD and the U.S. Dollar Index Futures may affect exporters and companies with significant foreign-currency exposure.
  • Concentration of gains and losses - with some sectors outperforming and others lagging, sector- and stock-specific risks remain for portfolios focused on Spanish equities.

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