Amsterdam AEX rises to highest level ever at opening on Thursday

The Amsterdam AEX index rose to its highest level ever at the opening of trading on Thursday. The main index on the Damrak recorded a gain of 1.1 percent shortly after the start, reaching a record high of 958.97 points. This broke the previous interim record of 952.45 points set on February 18 of this year.

The closing record for the AEX, which now comprises 30 stocks, was set on February 17 with a level of 948.54 points.

Beleaguered electric bus manufacturer Ebusco led the charge at the opening bell with share prices jumping over 5.6 percent in the first half-hour of trading, recovering losses suffered on Wednesday. Tech firms BE Semiconductor, ASML, and ASM International saw significant gains of 5.5, 4.5, and 4.4 percent, respectively.

The three also ranked as the shares traded in the highest volumes at the start of the day, followed by ArcelorMittal and Adyen, which both showed early gains. TomTom also saw a 4.4 percent boost early on.

Prosus rose 1.9 percent among the main stocks. The tech investor announced its takeover bid for meal delivery service Just Eat Takeaway has been given an unconditional green light, with the tender of 90.13 percent of the shares. The €4.1 billion acquisition of the owner of Thuisbezorgd.nl can now be completed, after which Just Eat Takeaway will be delisted.

Information provider RELX, food company Unilever, insurer ASR Nederland, and oil and gas company Shell closed the AEX with losses of 0.4 percent.

The AEX started the year at 878.63 points and steadily rose towards 950 points in the first few months. After reaching the new record in February, the index fell due to the threat of import tariffs imposed by American president Donald Trump.

After Trump announced substantial import tariffs on goods from virtually all countries in early April, the AEX fell sharply from over 900 points to around 785 points. Thanks to the postponement of tariffs and the prospect of trade negotiations with the United States, the AEX climbed back above 900 points in early May.