Netherlands equities ended Thursday's trading session with gains, driven by strength in Technology, Consumer Services and Healthcare firms. The AEX index in Amsterdam finished the day up 1.70%.
Leading the index's winners was Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT), which climbed 11.45% - an increase of 1.28 points - to close at 12.44. Financial services group ING Groep NV (AS:INGA) added 3.66%, rising 0.88 points to finish at 24.76. Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners PLC (AS:CVC) also gained, up 3.52% or 0.44 points to end the session at 12.95.
On the downside, Universal Music Group NV (AS:UMG) recorded the largest loss among AEX-listed names, falling 8.08% - a decline of 1.57 points - to close at 17.82. By contrast, Inpost SA (AS:INPST) edged up 0.07% or 0.01 points to 15.22, and payment processor Adyen NV (AS:ADYEN) rose 0.14%, adding 1.30 points to finish at 958.50.
Market breadth in Amsterdam reflected the rally: 71 stocks closed higher versus 24 decliners, while 10 issues finished unchanged.
Measured implied volatility on the exchange, the AEX Volatility index, was flat for the session, unchanged at 21.09.
Commodity prices moved during the European session. Crude oil for June delivery fell 2.29% - a drop of 2.45 - to $104.43 a barrel. Brent oil for July delivery declined 0.53% or 0.59 to $109.85 a barrel. Precious metals moved in the opposite direction, with the June Gold Futures contract rising 1.44% - up 65.85 - to trade at $4,627.35 a troy ounce.
In foreign-exchange markets, the euro firmed against the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.49% to 1.17. EUR/GBP moved 0.35% to 0.86 and the US Dollar Index Futures slipped 0.84% to 98.00.
Overall, the session closed with strong participation on the upside and mixed moves across commodities and currencies, while implied volatility for AEX options remained unchanged.