Stock Markets March 31, 2026

AEX retreats as consumer, telecom and software stocks weigh; Unilever tumbles to 52-week low

Broad market slips 0.49% in Amsterdam with selective gains in music, semiconductors and banking stocks

By Avery Klein
AEX retreats as consumer, telecom and software stocks weigh; Unilever tumbles to 52-week low

Amsterdam's AEX index closed lower on Tuesday, slipping 0.49% to a new one-month low after sectors including Consumer Services, Telecoms and Software & Computer Services paced declines. While a handful of names such as Universal Music Group, BE Semiconductor Industries and ABN AMRO outperformed, Unilever plunged to a 52-week low. Commodity and currency markets showed mixed moves, with crude oil and gold rising while Brent eased and the dollar weakened.

Key Points

  • AEX closed down 0.49%, reaching a new one-month low, with losses led by Consumer Services, Telecoms and Software & Computer Services sectors.
  • Top performers included Universal Music Group (AS:UMG), BE Semiconductor Industries (AS:BESI) and ABN AMRO (AS:ABNd); the largest decliner was Unilever (AS:ULVR), which fell to a 52-week low.
  • Commodities and currencies were mixed: U.S. crude and gold rose, Brent oil dipped, EUR/USD strengthened and the U.S. Dollar Index Futures fell.

Netherlands equities finished the trading day in the red on Tuesday, with losses concentrated in Consumer Services, Telecoms and Software & Computer Services driving the decline in Amsterdam.

The benchmark AEX closed down 0.49%, marking a fresh one-month low for the index.

Among individual movers, Universal Music Group NV (AS:UMG) led the gainers on the AEX, rising 2.78% - an increase of 0.45 points - to finish at 16.64. BE Semiconductor Industries NV (AS:BESI) also registered a strong performance, adding 2.73% or 4.75 points to end the session at 178.95. ABN AMRO Group NV (AS:ABNd) advanced 2.26% - up 0.60 points - to close at 27.11.

On the downside, Unilever PLC (AS:ULVR) recorded the heaviest drop, falling 7.25% or 3.80 points to close at 48.62, and in doing so hit a 52-week low. Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT) slid 2.55% or 0.33 points to 12.71, while DSM Firmenich AG (AS:DSFIR) decreased 2.04% - down 1.28 points - to finish at 61.44.

Market breadth on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange skewed positive in terms of counts, with 69 stocks rising, 29 declining and 4 ending unchanged.

Volatility measures for the index were flat; the AEX Volatility reading was unchanged at 21.09, representing a 0.00% move for the session.

Commodity markets were mixed. U.S. crude oil for May delivery rose 1.47%, gaining $1.51 to trade at $104.39 a barrel. Brent oil for June delivery eased 0.28% or $0.30 to $107.09 a barrel. Precious metals advanced, with the June Gold Futures contract up 1.96% or $89.17 to trade at $4,646.67 a troy ounce.

Currency markets showed the euro strengthening against the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.51% to 1.15. EUR/GBP was noted as unchanged at 0.44% to 0.87. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures moved lower by 0.36% to 99.99.


This session’s activity left a mix of sector and single-stock outcomes: consumer, telecom and software-related names pressured the index, while select media, semiconductor and banking stocks posted gains.

The market closed with the headline AEX at a one-month low and a notable 52-week low recorded by Unilever, while volatility measures held steady.

Risks

  • Sector concentration of losses - with Consumer Services, Telecoms and Software & Computer Services leading declines - poses downside pressure on the AEX.
  • A major component hitting a 52-week low, such as Unilever, adds to near-term volatility and could influence investor sentiment in consumer-related stocks.
  • Mixed moves in commodities and currencies create uncertainty for market participants exposed to energy, materials and currency-sensitive sectors.

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