Netherlands stocks higher at close of trade; AEX up 0.29%

Netherlands stocks saw a rise at the close of trade on Friday, with the AEX index gaining 0.29%. The Basic Materials, Consumer Services, and Financials sectors saw gains that drove the shares higher. The top gainers of the day were ArcelorMittal SA, Exor NV, and Prosus. ArcelorMittal rose 2.32% to 62.58, Exor added 2.15% to 71.20, and Prosus increased 1.81% to 38.30.

On the flip side, SBM Offshore, Universal Music Group, and Shell saw declines. SBM fell 2.21% to 34.44, UMG declined 1.14% to 14.73, and Shell dropped 0.92% to 39.91. The AEX Volatility remained stable at 21.09, showing balanced market expectations. Crude oil for October delivery saw a slight rise of 0.15% to $86.96, while Brent oil for the same month increased by 0.66% to $94.40.

Gold Futures for December gained 2.23% to $4,673.36 an ounce. The EUR/USD exchange rate held steady at 1.17, and EUR/GBP stayed flat at 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures, however, saw a minor drop of 0.08% to 98.74.