The AEX index on the Damrak ended Friday’s session in positive territory, as lower crude prices boosted overall investor sentiment on the Amsterdam exchange.
The retreat in energy markets pressured sector heavyweight Shell and oil services provider SBM Offshore, which fell 0.9 per cent and 1.9 per cent respectively. The broader decline in oil followed a report in the Financial Times that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had submitted a proposal to US officials in New York aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz under specific conditions. US West Texas Intermediate fell 0.8 per cent to $93.84 per barrel, while Brent crude dropped 0.5 per cent to $106.12.
The benchmark AEX index closed 0.5 per cent higher at 1,112.09 points, recovering from a modest 0.1 per cent dip on Thursday. In contrast, the mid-cap MidKap index shed 0.3 per cent to settle at 1,081.05 points.
Across Europe, stock markets delivered a mixed performance: London and Frankfurt posted gains of up to 0.6 per cent, while Paris edged slightly lower.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
