European stocks fall, Shell is an advance

The stock exchange in Amsterdam is open lower Monday. The other European stock exchanges also started in red. Investors’ attention was mainly focused on the sharp rise in oil prices following the attacks on two major oil fields in Saudi Arabia. At the Damrak, the oil and gas group Shell benefited from the more expensive oil.

After a few minutes of trading, the AEX index on Beursplein 5 recorded 0.3 percent in the minus at 575.08 points. The MidKap fell 0.5 percent to 838.43 points. The stock exchanges in Paris, Frankfurt and London lost up to 0.7 percent.

Shell led the scarce risers in the AEX with a profit of 3.1 percent. In the MidKap, oil service providers Fugro and SBM Offshore rose 4.2 and 3.5 percent. Aviation combination Air France (minus 5 percent) was affected by higher oil prices. In London, oil and gas company BP rose 3.6 percent and French Total gained 2.9 percent. Brent oil cost 9 percent more at $ 65.63 per barrel. A barrel of American oil rose 8.1 percent to $ 59.29.