Brexit hope gives AEX a nice ending | Financial

The AEX index ended 0.8% higher at 622.42 points. The AMX advanced 0.6% to 932.08 points. The price signs in London (+ 0.7%), Paris (+ 1.1%) and Frankfurt (+ 1.3%) also turned green.

Optimistic reports that a post-Brexit UK-European trade treaty is underway pushed the pound’s exchange rate. The currency was worth nearly 1% more against the euro. British media reported that such a Brexit agreement could possibly be announced as early as Wednesday evening. This news also made stock investors excited.

“Optimism dominates the stock markets. At the beginning of this week, there was still a fear because of the new corona variant, but that has ebbed away, ”said investment strategist Wim Zwanenburg (Stroeve & Lemberger). In addition to the growing likelihood of a Brexit deal, investors are also relying on announcements that corona vaccines will also work against the new, more contagious variant of the virus.

According to analyst Corné van Zeijl (Actiam), the financial markets reacted calmly to the unexpected action of US President Donald Trump, who returned the agreement on an emergency aid package of $ 900 billion to Congress in Washington. Trump wants financial aid to be increased from $ 600 to $ 2000 for most Americans. “The situation is now becoming dire for some Americans. But everyone also knows that there will be a different president in a month, ”said Van Zeijl.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones index was heading towards the end of the afternoon approximately 0.7% higher. However, the Nasdaq tech exchange gave up 0.1%. An hour before stock market trading started in New York, it was announced that 803,000 Americans had applied for unemployment benefits in the past week. That was a stroke of luck, as analysts had expected 880,000 requests for support.

Unibail leader in AEX, Takeaway laggard

In the AEX was retail property fund Unibail the leader with a plus of 4.4%. The financial values ABN Amro (+3,9%), Aegon (+ 3.6%) in ING (+ 3.4%) were also in demand.

Biotechnology company Galapagos (+ 2.5%) recovered after the race drone from last week. The AEX was also helped by heavyweight Royal Dutch Shell (+2,9%).

Just Eat Takeaway (-1.4%) was the biggest laggard among the main funds. At the beginning of this week, the meal delivery company was still the trendsetter in the AEX due to the expectation that the lockdowns in Europe may take a little longer and those who stay at home will place more orders.

Philips closed unchanged. CEO Frans van Houten said in an interview with De Telegraaf on Wednesday that the healthcare technology group is on the right path.

In de AMX was Air France KLM the largest riser with a plus of 4.5%. The airline company was on the rise thanks to the resumption of flights to the United Kingdom.

Pharming won 0.2%. As of today, the shares of the Dutch biotechnology company can also be traded on the American technology exchange Nasdaq.

Basic-Fit (-2.3%) was the largest drop in medium-sized funds. The gym chain has agreed more lenient rules for its loan facility with the banks. Due to the new agreements, Basic-Fit will not have to meet the six-monthly test for the ratio between borrowed money and equity capital at the end of this year and in June next year. For the test at the end of next year, more flexible rules than normal apply.

In the special end-of-year episode of the Kwestie van Centen podcast, Martin Visser and Herman Stam look back on a turbulent year.

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