ASMI, Besi, and ASML saw a modest recovery on the Amsterdam stock exchange this Friday, following significant losses the previous day. The decline on Thursday followed investor reactions to Nvidia’s quarterly results. Although Nvidia outperformed expectations for both past earnings and future revenue forecasts, the AI chip developer failed to ease broader market anxieties. Investors remain concerned about heavy AI spending and high valuations within the technology sector. While the three Dutch chip giants rose by up to 1% on Friday, they had shed as much as 4.5% during the Thursday session.
The AEX index ended the day 0.5% higher at 1,027.02 points. Meanwhile, the MidKap index dropped 0.2% to 1,032.57 points. Markets in Frankfurt and Paris fell by up to 0.5%, though London’s FTSE saw a 0.7% gain. Information provider Wolters Kluwer led the AEX with a 3% increase, while insurer NN Group fell 2.2%.
MidKap shifts and rising oil prices
In the MidKap, Fugro dropped 7.6%. The geo-data specialist reported a net loss due to weak conditions in the offshore wind farm market and delays in oil and gas projects. Consequently, Fugro significantly reduced its dividend and cut investment spending. Other notable movements included AMG, which rose 1.1% after a 12% plunge on Thursday, and component manufacturer Kendrion, which climbed 4.6% after returning to profit. Deposit machine maker Envipco surged 9.5% following a major contract in Portugal, while IT firm Ctac dipped 0.7%.
Oil prices rose sharply as traders anticipated potential escalations between the United States and Iran over the weekend. US crude increased by 2% to $66.52 per barrel, while Brent crude rose 2.4% to $72.45 per barrel.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
