AEX slips 0.19% to 1,017.50 after all-time high; semis hit records

Netherlands stocks closed slightly lower on May 8, with the AEX down 0.19% to 1,017.50 as losses in Basic Materials, Healthcare, and Consumer Services outweighed gains led by ASM International (+2.72% to ATH 882.20) and BE Semiconductor (+2.40% to ATH 260.80). This followed a volatile week: a 0.90% drop on May 4 amid ASML (-2.86% to 1,187.40) and ArcelorMittal (-3.35% to 47.59) weakness, then a sharp 1.67% rebound to new all-time high on May 6 powered by ASML (+6.18% to 1,305.00) and ArcelorMittal (+8.03% to 53.56). Commodities swung wildly, with crude oil plunging 6.6-6.8% on May 6 before recovering (Brent +1.45% to $101.51) and gold rising steadily to $4,719.89.