A year ago, analysts praised 2023 as a standout year for investors, and 2024 has also proven exceptional, according to Corné van Zeijl from Cardano. The MSCI World Index, tracking large and mid-cap companies from 23 nations, registered nearly a 20% return, surpassing typical savings accounts.
Amsterdam’s AEX index hit a record high of 949 points in July but closed at 878.63 points today, following concerns about a U.S. recession. Despite various winners and losers, the AEX achieved nearly 12% growth, while France’s market struggled due to political unrest.
Germany’s market showed a nearly 19% increase, ignoring geopolitical tensions. Siemens Energy emerged as a top performer with over 323% growth, largely due to its involvement in nuclear energy and grid strengthening.
Rheinmetall also benefitted due to defense orders. On the downside, German automakers like Volkswagen and BMW faced challenges.
The U.S. stock market’s optimism, driven by reduced regulations and taxes, contributed significantly to the global index gains. In the Netherlands, investment continued robustly, with Dutch households’ invested wealth reaching 193 billion euros by November.
Savings also hit a record 480.413 billion euros, with average savings account interest at 1.47% in October.
Source: NOS