Netherlands stocks higher at close of trade; AEX up 0.78%

Dutch equities finished in positive territory on Tuesday, as the benchmark AEX index gained 0.78% to close at 1,110.93 points. The market advance was primarily propelled by strong momentum across the Technology, Basic Materials, and Consumer Services sectors. Market breadth remained firmly positive on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, where advancing shares outpaced declining ones by a count of 55 to 40, with nine issues closing unchanged. The AEX Volatility index remained flat on the session at 21.09. Leading the top performers on the benchmark index was ASM International NV, which surged 4.21% or 34.80 points to end at 860.80. Technology investment group Prosus followed closely with a 4.13% advance to 37.57, while DSM Firmenich AG gained 2.95% to 97.12, setting a new 52-week high. Conversely, defensive and financial stocks lagged the broader market, with telecom operator Koninklijke KPN falling 1.90%, alongside declines in insurers ASR Nederland and Aegon, which dropped 1.77% and 1.76% respectively.