lower

The Amsterdam AEX index dipped slightly by 0.2 per cent to close at 1,034.93 points on the final trading day of May, despite booking an overall monthly gain of more than 2 per cent. Construction firm BAM stole the spotlight in the MidCap index, surging 16.6 per cent after broker Oddo BHF upgraded the stock to a "buy" based on improved profitability in its UK operations. Elsewhere, ABN AMRO led the main index gains following the completion of its €250 million share buyback scheme, while Heineken dropped 2.3 per cent. Meanwhile, broader markets saw slight dips in London and Paris, and oil prices slid up to 1.9 per cent on hopes of a swift end to conflict in the Middle East.

The AEX index opened lower on Friday as investors paused to catch their breath following a significant two-day rally. Market sentiment remains cautious as the world awaits concrete details from the summit in Beijing between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Despite Trump’s optimistic talk of "fantastic trade deals" and potential cooperation regarding oil and the Strait of Hormuz, the lack of specific particulars—coupled with rising tensions over Iran—led the Amsterdam benchmark to dip 0.9 per cent to 1,012.60 points in early trading.