+++ Geschäftszahlen +++: Finanzkonzern W&W stemmt sich gegen Bauspar-Flaute

In a recent financial report, the business group W&W faced a decline in stock value by five percent in after-hours trading. Analyst Brian Chin from financial services provider Stifel attributed this to the high expectations investors had set prior to the release of the numbers. Competitors like Lam Research and KLA presented strong quarterly results and growth projections.

Applied Materials shares have already doubled this year. ABN Amro exceeded the winning expectations set in the second quarter. During April to June, the Dutch major bank recorded a net profit of 780 million euros (900 million US dollars). Net interest income rose by 11 percent, while fee income increased by 25 percent. The capital adequacy ratio (CET1) improved to 15.9 percent. The return on equity (RoTE), a key indicator of profitability, increased to 12.1 percent.

ABN Amro also benefited from the European Central Bank (ECB) raising interest rates in the euro area, potentially leading to further actions. Norway's sovereign wealth fund invested in the country's oil and gas earnings. Nvidia remained the largest position in the fund at the end of the first half, followed by Microsoft and Apple. Overall, stocks generated a return of 13 percent, while fixed-income securities earned 0.9 percent.