Shell, Unilever and  ASML are set to be the best performing companies on the Amsterdam stock exchange in 2018, the Telegraaf reported on Monday.

The stocks were picked by the majority of private investors participating in ING’s monthly investors barometer.

But along with information provider Wolters Kluwer and telecom group KPN, Shell also made the list of the least favoured shares in terms of returns over 2018 in the ING research.

Bob Homan, head of the  ING Investment Office, understands why Shell made both lists: ‘It is all down to what different investors think of oil price developments,’ he said.

The ING report revealed that a small majority of investors felt there will be a slight rise in the interest rate on 10-year bonds next year.