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

Netherlands stocks ended slightly higher on Monday, driven by strong performances across the technology, oil & gas, and financials sectors. At the closing bell in Amsterdam, the benchmark AEX index advanced 0.17%. Leading the session's gains was semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASM International, which climbed 4.48% to trade at 862.20, followed by BE Semiconductor Industries, rising 2.97% to 202.50, and SBM Offshore, up 2.66% to 36.26. Conversely, downward pressure emerged from consumer and tech names, with Magnum Ice Cream dropping 2.68% and payment company Adyen declining 2.55% to 1,000.40. Prosus also retreated 1.80% to settle at 36.46, touching fresh 52-week lows during the session. Overall market breadth remained negative, with declining issues outpacing advancers by 54 to 41 on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. In the broader commodities space, energy contracts showed strength as crude oil climbed 1.78% to $93.11 per barrel and Brent crude gained 1.45% to reach $97.68. Meanwhile, gold futures slipped 0.36% to trade at $4,460.36 an ounce, and the US Dollar Index weakened by 0.28% to 98.87, highlighting shifting macroeconomic sentiment across global markets.