Stock Markets January 29, 2026

Oslo Benchmark Climbs to Record High as Healthcare, Pharma and Utilities Lead Gains

Oslo OBX rises 0.70% at close amid sector advances; mixed breadth and commodity moves accompany the session

By Marcus Reed SALM TGS
Oslo Benchmark Climbs to Record High as Healthcare, Pharma and Utilities Lead Gains
SALM TGS

Norwegian equities closed higher on Thursday with the Oslo OBX index up 0.70% to a record. Strength in Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities helped lift the market. SalMar, TGS NOPEC and Aker BP were among the top performers, while Nel, Nordic Semiconductor and Norwegian Air Shuttle lagged. Commodity and currency markets saw notable moves, including a sharp rise in crude and Brent oil and declines in gold futures.

Key Points

  • Oslo OBX rose 0.70% and reached a new all-time high at the close.
  • Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities led sector gains.
  • Commodities saw strong oil gains while gold futures declined; EUR/NOK was flat and USD/NOK rose.

Norway's share market ended Thursday's trading session in positive territory as sector gains pushed the Oslo OBX higher. At the close in Oslo, the Oslo OBX added 0.70% and reached a new all-time high.

Sector performance was led by advances in Healthcare Equipment & Services, Pharma Biotech & Life Sciences and Utilities, which collectively supported the broader uptick in the index.


Top movers on the Oslo OBX

The session's strongest performers included SalMar ASA (OL:SALM), which climbed 3.34% - a rise of 18.50 points - to finish at 573.00. TGS NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA (OL:TGS) added 2.50%, gaining 2.50 points to close at 102.50. Aker BP ASA (OL:AKRBP) was up 2.35%, or 6.50 points, to end the session at 283.20.

Lagging names

On the downside, Nel ASA (OL:NEL) fell 2.77%, losing 0.06 points to trade at 2.18 at the close. Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OL:NOD) declined 2.52%, or 3.30 points, ending at 127.50. Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (OL:NAS) was down 2.51%, a drop of 0.42 points, to 16.09.

Market breadth on the Oslo Stock Exchange showed more declining issues than advancing ones: 134 stocks fell while 120 rose, and 27 ended unchanged.


Commodities and currencies

Commodity markets registered significant movement during the session. Crude oil for March delivery rose 3.50%, up 2.21, to $65.42 a barrel. Brent oil for April delivery gained 3.15%, or 2.12, closing at $69.49 a barrel. By contrast, the April Gold Futures contract fell 2.54%, a move of 135.59, to trade at $5,204.61 a troy ounce.

In currency trading, EUR/NOK was essentially unchanged, moving 0.01% to 11.46, while USD/NOK rose 0.18% to 9.61. The US Dollar Index Futures advanced 0.05% to 96.32.


Additional market note

Year to date, 2 out of 3 global portfolios are beating their benchmark indexes, with 88% in the green. The flagship Tech Titans strategy is reported to have doubled the S&P 500 within 18 months, including winners such as Super Micro Computer and AppLovin, and questions remain about which stock might be next to rise. A related promotional note highlights a New Year’s Sale - 55% OFF.

Risks

  • Market breadth was negative with more decliners (134) than advancers (120), signaling uneven participation across sectors - this could affect equity sectors differently.
  • Commodity price volatility, highlighted by a 3% plus rise in crude and Brent, introduces uncertainty for energy-linked companies and broader market sentiment.
  • A notable drop in gold futures (April contract down 2.54%) reflects shifts in commodity demand or positioning, which can influence metals and related sectors.

More from Stock Markets

Moody's Raises Twilio to Ba1, Cites Growth Trajectory and Conservative Financial Discipline Feb 2, 2026 Moody's Raises OUTFRONT Media Credit Rating to Ba3, Citing Lower Leverage and Digital Push Feb 2, 2026 Moody's Moves Mister Car Wash Outlook to Positive as Credit Metrics Improve Feb 2, 2026 S&P Elevates SM Energy to BB After Civitas Deal, Cites Bigger Footprint and Diversification Feb 2, 2026 NXP Sees Strong Start to Quarter, Cites Automotive Strength and Stable Industrial Demand Feb 2, 2026