Netherlands stocks finished the trading session lower on Thursday as sector losses in Oil & Gas, Financials and Industrials pushed the AEX index down 0.52% at the Amsterdam close.
Among individual contributors to the session's moves, ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) stood out as the top performer on the AEX, rising 3.09% or 1.47 points to close at 49.01. Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT) also advanced, adding 2.27% or 0.35 points to finish at 15.89, while Wolters Kluwer (AS:WLSNc) gained 2.04% or 1.40 points to end the day at 69.96.
On the downside, ABN AMRO Group NV (AS:ABNd) led losses among the benchmark components, slipping 4.78% or 1.54 points to close at 30.68. Shell PLC (AS:SHEL) declined 3.79% or 1.26 points to 31.99, and ING Groep NV (AS:INGA) fell 3.69% or 0.96 points to 25.08.
Market breadth at the Amsterdam exchange favored falling issues, with 53 stocks closing lower versus 41 that advanced; 15 stocks finished unchanged.
Two notable technical milestones were recorded during the session. Shares of ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) rose to five-year highs after gaining 3.09% to reach 49.01, while shares of Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT) moved to all-time highs following a 2.27% increase to 15.89.
Volatility measures for the AEX were steady at the close: the AEX Volatility index was unchanged, registering 21.09, a 0.00% change from the previous reading.
Commodities markets moved lower on the session. Crude oil for March delivery fell 2.55% or 1.66 to $63.48 a barrel. Brent oil for April delivery dropped 2.56% or 1.78 to $67.68 a barrel. The April Gold Futures contract declined 0.95% or 47.19 to trade at $4,903.61 a troy ounce.
In foreign exchange trading, the euro was effectively flat against the dollar, with EUR/USD unchanged by 0.03% at 1.18. EUR/GBP rose 0.79% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.17% at 97.65.
Key points
- The AEX closed down 0.52% as declines in Oil & Gas, Financials and Industrials weighed on the market.
- Top gainers included ArcelorMittal (5-year highs), Magnum Ice Cream (all-time highs) and Wolters Kluwer; major laggards included ABN AMRO, Shell and ING.
- Commodities and FX moved lower for energy and precious metals, while EUR/USD held near the previous level and the US Dollar Index Futures rose modestly.
Risks and uncertainties
- Energy price volatility: crude and Brent oil both fell over 2.5% during the session, which may affect Oil & Gas sector performance.
- Financials sensitivity: heavy declines in major banking stocks such as ABN AMRO and ING contributed materially to the AEX drop.
- Breadth imbalance: more decliners than advancers (53 vs. 41) signals uneven market participation across sectors.