Ahold Delhaize rises nearly 7% as Amsterdam stocks gain

Ahold Delhaize shares rose nearly 7% in Amsterdam on Wednesday after the supermarket group reported higher quarterly revenue and operating profit, despite cutting its annual outlook following last month’s cyberattack. The AEX closed 1.3% higher at 1,136.29 points.

The owner of Albert Heijn, Etos, Gall & Gall and bol said the cyberattack is expected to reduce revenue in the current quarter by €200 million to €250 million. It reported quarterly revenue of €23.1 billion, up 1.9% year on year and above analysts’ expectations. Operating profit of €946 million also exceeded expectations.

The wider market rose after the US midterm elections. Companies associated with clean energy gained across Europe as investors saw a greater likelihood that federal support in the US would be maintained after Democratic victories. Wind companies Vestas and Ørsted rose by nearly 5% in Copenhagen, while Portugal’s EDP Renewables gained just over 3% in Lisbon.

Amsterdam’s MidKap index rose 1.2% to 1,117.21 points, while London, Paris and Frankfurt each gained up to 2.2%. Ahold’s rally contrasted with declines among chipmakers: ASMI, ASML and Besi were the AEX’s biggest fallers, losing just over 5%. Shell and oil services company SBM Offshore fell by nearly 2% as oil prices dropped sharply.