Nordic stock markets rise as Helsinki and Oslo indices trend upward

Nordic stock markets showed gains on Friday. The Helsinki OMXH index rose by 0.9 percent, led by SRV, which saw a 4.4 percent increase following a week of growth. Other notable movers in Helsinki included Nokia, up 1.4 percent, and UPM, up 1.6 percent. Conversely, Aiforia shares dropped 13.6 percent due to widening losses. In Finland, Bittium announced change negotiations in its Engineering Services segment that could lead to up to 30 layoffs, while YIT secured a contract to build a new data center in Myllykoski.

In Norway, the Oslo Børs main index rose 0.55 percent shortly after opening. Shipping company Frontline reported a record second quarter with a profit of $659 million, significantly up from $78 million the previous year, causing its shares to turn upward after an initial dip. Other market activity included gains for Equinor and Circio Holding, while Aker and Kongsberg Gruppen saw declines. Energy markets remained active, with oil at $88 per barrel and European gas prices rising toward yearly highs amid supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.