Staff Report
Finnish equities closed sharply higher on Thursday, with a strong performance in the Technology, Financials, and Telecom sectors propelling the OMX Helsinki 25 to a 3.47% gain by the end of trading.
Leading the charge was industrial machinery firm Metso Oyj, which soared 8.39% to finish at €8.32. Software company Qt Group Oyj followed closely, climbing 8.05% to €69.10, while lifting the industrial sector, Konecranes ABP gained 5.98% to close at €51.95.
Even the session’s weakest performers posted gains. Neste Oyj ticked up 1.14% to €7.12, while retailer Kesko Oyj added 1.37% to reach €18.44. Forestry and packaging company Stora Enso Oyj R also edged higher, rising 1.52% to close at €7.48.
Overall, market sentiment remained overwhelmingly positive, with advancing stocks outpacing decliners 170 to 13 on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Seven stocks ended the session unchanged.
On the commodities front, energy prices dipped notably. Brent crude for June delivery dropped 4.22% to $62.72 per barrel, while May crude futures shed 4.75% to settle at $59.39. In contrast, gold prices surged, with June gold futures climbing 3.14% to $3,176.14 per troy ounce.
In currency markets, the euro strengthened against major rivals. EUR/USD rose 2.19% to 1.12, and EUR/GBP gained 1.24% to 0.86. Meanwhile, the US Dollar Index Futures fell 1.79% to 100.79, reflecting broader pressure on the greenback.
The sharp rally in Finnish equities underscores renewed investor confidence, particularly in tech and industrial sectors, amid shifting global economic dynamics.
