Netherlands stocks higher at close of trade; AEX up 0.17%

Netherlands stocks rallied after the market closed on Monday, buoyed by strong gains in technology, oil & gas, and financial sectors. The Amsterdam Exchange's AEX index climbed 0.17% at the day's end. The biggest gainers included ASM International NV (AS:ASMI), which surged 4.48% or 37.00 points to close at 862.20, and BE Semiconductor Industries NV (AS:BESI) which jumped 2.97% or 5.85 points to 202.50.

SBM Offshore NV (AS:SBMO) also increased 2.66% or 0.94 points to 36.26. Conversely, Magnum Ice Cream Nv (AS:MICCT) declined 2.68% or 0.45 points to 16.25, Adyen NV (AS:ADYEN) dropped 2.55% or 26.20 points to 1,000.40, and Prosus (AS:PRX) fell 1.80% or 0.67 points to 36.46. The number of declining stocks outnumbered the advancing ones 54 to 41, with 11 remaining unchanged.

Prosus (AS:PRX) hit its 52-week low, losing 1.80% or 0.67 to 36.46. AEX Volatility, a measure of implied volatility of AEX options, remained steady at 0.00% to 21.09. Crude oil prices for October delivery rose 1.78% or 1.63 to $93.11 a barrel, while Brent oil for November delivery increased 1.45% or 1.40 to $97.68 a barrel. December Gold Futures fell 0.36% or 16.24 to $4,460.36 a troy ounce.

Currency markets showed EUR/USD and EUR/GBP unchanged at 1.16 and 0.86 respectively, and the US Dollar Index Futures fell 0.28% at 98.87.