Economy

Dutch civil servants are preparing for a massive national strike on 14 April to protest a freeze on their wages. The walkout follows months of smaller actions and aims to highlight the growing pressure on public services and staff recruitment.

Markets on Wall Street started the week in positive territory as investors looked ahead to a key interest rate decision from the Federal Reserve. The central bank is expected to hold rates steady amid uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East. Technology stocks were among the main gainers, led by Meta and Nvidia.

The OECD says the war in the Middle East is creating major risks for global growth, though the full effects remain unclear. Rising energy prices could fuel inflation and pressure central banks to keep interest rates high. New forecasts from the ECB and the Federal Reserve may soon shed more light on the situation.

DHL Express says a strike by FNV and CNV may cause delays for customers on Monday. The unions argue that the company’s wage offer is too low, while DHL Express insists its proposal is reasonable. The company wants the unions to resume talks.

A new autonomous robot is helping nurses spend more time with patients by taking over delivery tasks in busy hospitals. The innovation has earned a nomination for a major national award, with the public now invited to vote for the winner.

ASML has officially broken ground on its new campus at the Brainport Industries Campus North following a rapid approval process. The project will create up to 20,000 jobs and includes significant investments in local infrastructure and ecological protection.

Tensions in the Middle East continued to influence financial markets on Friday. The AEX closed slightly higher as rising oil prices and takeover speculation around Besi trading. Meanwhile, companies warned that the conflict highlights Europe’s need for greater energy independence.

Meta plans to cut thousands of jobs as it shifts more investment into artificial intelligence. Sources say the reductions could reach one‑fifth of the workforce, though no final decision has been made. The move reflects a wider trend in the tech sector as companies rely more heavily on AI tools.