AEX

A renewed surge in semiconductor stocks helped steady the Amsterdam stock exchange on Friday morning, with the AEX creeping up to 1,101.01 points as key chipmakers like ASML, ASMI, and Besi gained around 2 per cent. While broader European markets drifted lower on rising inflation and global interest rate hikes—including an unprecedented triple-rate increase in the same month by the Bank of Japan, the US Federal Reserve, and the ECB—Amsterdam found support in its tech sector. Meanwhile, falling crude prices dragged down energy stocks such as Shell and SBM Offshore, while telecoms operator KPN anchored the index with a 1.7 per cent drop following an analyst downgrade.

Amsterdam's AEX index opened virtually flat on Friday morning as cautious investors paused following three consecutive days of losses. Heavy focus turned to upcoming US inflation data for clues on central bank interest rate moves, amidst fresh market anxiety over rising oil prices driven by Middle East geopolitical tensions. Financial stocks provided the main bright spot for the index with gains of around 1 per cent, offsetting losses across information publishers and energy giant Shell.

The AEX opened virtually flat on Friday morning as investors stood by for the crucial US employment report due later today, which—alongside inflation figures—will heavily influence the Federal Reserve's next interest rate decision. Although rising oil prices had heightened rate hike fears earlier in the week, market anxiety eased on Thursday following comments from Fed Governor Christopher Waller in favour of keeping rates on hold if inflation cools, leaving Amsterdam's benchmark index trading fractionally higher at 1,105.02 points shortly after the opening bell.

The AEX index in Amsterdam closed the trading week higher on Friday, boosted by broad gains across the market and positive momentum across major European exchanges. Investors weighed comments from US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh, who cautioned that American inflation remains sticky while clarifying that further interest rate hikes are not a foregone conclusion. Technology stocks drew support from strong earnings by US AI giant Nvidia, helping lift chemical distributor IMCD and insurer ASR to the top of the index, while Air France-KLM and property firm Eurocommercial Properties also recorded gains.

The AEX index in Amsterdam edged 0.4 per cent higher on Friday morning, recovering slightly despite broader market anxiety surrounding rising US government bond yields and high national debt. European indices posted modest gains, spearheaded by semiconductor giants ASMI, Besi, and ASML, which rose up to 2.4 per cent. However, investor sentiment remained cautious following Thursday's sharp drop on Wall Street and mixed overnight trading across Asian markets, where rising energy costs stoked Japanese inflation. Meanwhile, corporate moves dominated the headlines, highlighted by EV charging firm Alfen tumbling over 3 per cent after a broker downgrade, and Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi seeking strategic acquisitions to block a potential takeover by rival Intesa.

Fastned stood out as one of the top gainers on the Amsterdam stock market on Friday, with its shares climbing 5.5 per cent following a strong first-half performance and upgraded profit forecasts for 2026. The electric vehicle charging operator benefited from record station openings, reduced losses, and analyst price target increases from Deutsche Bank and Jefferies, even as the broader AEX index dipped 0.2 per cent amid mixed performances across European markets.

Amsterdam’s AEX index extended its record rally on Friday morning, rising 0.3% to 1,123.44 points after opening, driven by ~3% gains in RELX and Wolters Kluwer. Broader market sentiment was bolstered by Wall Street's overnight record high, where optimism mounted that the US Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady in September. Meanwhile, the MidKap added 0.4% and Frankfurt gained 0.6%, while markets in Paris and London remained virtually flat.

The Amsterdam stock exchange opened lower on Friday as the benchmark AEX index fell 0.5% to 1,062.05 points, tracking a sharp tech-led sell-off in Asia fueled by surging memory chip prices. Global tech sentiment soured following news that heavy AI infrastructure investments are squeezing chip supply, forcing giants like Apple and Microsoft to hike product prices, while reports emerged that OpenAI may delay its stock market flotation until next year. On the local bourse, chip equipment maker Besi led the decliners with a 3.2% drop, contrasting with telecom firm KPN, which gained 1.3% on an analyst upgrade, while broader European markets dipped alongside falling oil prices as geopolitical anxieties in the Strait of Hormuz began to ease.