Damrak

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.

The Amsterdam AEX index closed 0.6% higher on Friday, reaching 1,020.60 points as investors rallied behind the tech and chip sectors. Key performers included Besi, which climbed 4.3% following strong quarterly results, and Adyen, which rose 4.8% after announcing a €750 million acquisition of German firm Talon.One. While broader European markets struggled and the MidKap index dipped, significant gains from chip giants ASML and ASMI helped the Dutch blue-chip index bounce back from earlier losses.