AEX closes 0.2 percent higher as Shell leads oil stocks

The AEX closed at 1,132 points on October 23, 2026, up 2 points or 0.2 percent. Oil stocks lifted the index as Brent crude traded above USD 114 amid concerns about Middle East supply disruptions.

Shell gained 3.8 percent and reached an all-time high. BE Semiconductor Industries fell 7.7 percent after Goldman Sachs and UBS lowered their price targets, while Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock.

Why did the AEX rise despite chip losses?

Oil and gas, healthcare and industrial stocks led the market, Investing.com reported. Brent crude rose above USD 114 as attacks in Saudi Arabia increased concerns about supply disruptions, Saxo said.

Chip stocks remained under pressure after Thursday's earnings reaction and analyst changes. BE Semiconductor Industries was the weakest AEX component, with Goldman Sachs cutting its target from EUR 325 to EUR 277 and UBS reducing its target from EUR 159 to EUR 148, Beurs.nl reported.

Winners and losers in the AEX

These closing figures were reported by Investing.com:

• Shell up 3.8 percent: oil prices supported the energy sector.
• SBM Offshore up 3.5 percent.
• Wolters Kluwer up 1.6 percent.
• BE Semiconductor Industries down 7.7 percent: analysts lowered price targets.
• Akzo Nobel down 1.6 percent.
• Koninklijke KPN down 1.5 percent.

Declining stocks outnumbered advancing stocks 55 to 42, with eight unchanged. The AEX volatility measure stood at 21.09.

AEX traded between 1,125 and 1,133 points

The index opened at 1,131 points, reached a high of 1,133 points and touched a low of 1,125 points. It recovered from an afternoon level of 1,129 points to finish higher, according to Investing.com.

What comes next for the AEX

• October 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m. CET: Germany's Ifo business climate survey, with a 89.8 consensus and 89.9 prior reading, Investing.com reports.
• October 26, 2026, 1:30 p.m. ET: The Chicago Fed national activity index for September is scheduled, De Aandeelhouder reports.
• October 28, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET: The Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision is scheduled, with the market expecting rates to remain unchanged, Morningstar reports.

AEX price data for October 23, 2026

The AEX closed at 1,132 points on October 23, 2026, up 2 points or 0.2 percent from the October 22 close of 1,130 points, according to Investing.com. It opened at 1,131 points and traded between 1,125 and 1,133 points.

More market reports and analysis on the AEX