AEX closes 0.6 percent higher at 1,142.24 points
Published on 10/29/2026 at 18:47 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSAEX closes higher after ECB decision
- The AEX ended October 29 at 1,142.24 points, up 0.6 percent.
- The ECB kept interest rates unchanged, while Christine Lagarde announced an early departure.
- Shell, CVC Capital Partners and ArcelorMittal were among the session's strongest performers.
The AEX ended Thursday's session at 1,142.24 points, a gain of 0.6 percent from the previous close. The closing level and the market context were reported by ANP, published by Welingelichte Kringen. Amsterdam therefore finished the October 29 trading session firmly above Wednesday's close of 1,135.56 points.
ECB decision shaped the session
The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged. At the subsequent press conference, ECB President Christine Lagarde said the central bank saw limited evidence that higher energy prices were feeding through into broader consumer-price increases. She also announced her early departure, while expectations of a possible rate increase at the next meeting remained part of the market discussion, according to the ANP report.
The rate decision was one of several factors investors weighed alongside a concentrated flow of quarterly results from companies listed in Amsterdam. The combination kept monetary policy and corporate earnings at the center of the European equity session rather than producing a single-company market narrative.
Shell and materials stocks lead
Shell was one of the strongest large-cap contributors after its quarterly update. A market recap by Investing.com listed CVC Capital Partners as the best performer, up 2.80 percent, followed by ArcelorMittal, which gained 2.39 percent, and Shell, which rose 2.16 percent. Shell shares reached a record high during the session, the report said.
The advance was not uniform across the index. Magnum Ice Cream fell 2.07 percent, ING declined 2.02 percent and Akzo Nobel lost 0.94 percent. Even so, advancing stocks outnumbered declining stocks on the Amsterdam exchange by 52 to 38, with eight unchanged.
What investors should watch next
For investors, the session highlighted the interaction between central-bank expectations, energy-related equities and company-specific earnings. The AEX's positive close came as the ECB maintained its current policy setting, but the comments around energy prices and the prospect of a future rate move leave monetary policy as a continuing market variable. Further company reports may determine whether the index can sustain its recent strength.
Additional AEX coverage is available on the AEX topic page.
