The Stockholm Stock Exchange opened Thursday's session in the red, retreating after Wednesday's rally. Among leading European bourses, Frankfurt and Paris are trading lower, while London records a modest gain.

As of 09:25 CET, the OMXS30 index was down 0.88 percent at 3,066.97. Adjusted for dividends, the OMXS30 fell 0.67 percent. Shares worth approximately SEK 2.0 billion changed hands on the Stockholm exchange.

Energy was the top performer among the major industrial sectors, rising 3.0 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, technology lagged the market, dropping 1.0 percent.

Among the blue-chip stocks in the OMXS30 index, AstraZeneca edged up 0.1 percent, while Assa Abloy B gained 0.1 percent. Saab B saw the weakest performance, falling 2.9 percent, while Tele2 B declined 2.4 percent.

Volvo is trading ex-dividend today for its SEK 13 per share payout. The stock was trading down SEK 15.60.

Lock manufacturer Assa Abloy has acquired Rollerdoor Group, a Portugal-based manufacturer of sectional doors. The acquisition had 2025 revenues of EUR 58 million, equivalent to SEK 640 million.

Live casino developer Evolution has petitioned the Superior Court of New Jersey for permission to add competitor Playtech as a defendant in its ongoing U.S. defamation lawsuit. Evolution alleges that Playtech has disparaged the company in an attempt to eliminate competition in the North American market. The conflict has been ongoing since December 2020. The stock retreated 1.5 percent.

Competition in the European automotive market is intensifying, and a price war may be looming, warned Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson in an interview with Sveriges Radio. Samuelsson pointed to supply outstripping demand and noted that price pressures in China could spill over into Europe as Chinese players enter the market. The stock fell 1.7 percent.

Construction firm Skanska has secured a pair of orders with a combined value of SEK 1.8 billion. The stock slipped 0.3 percent.

Home improvement chain Clas Ohlson increased sales by 11 percent in March, with organic growth accounting for 8 percent. The stock shed 0.7 percent.

A series of analyst rating changes were reported this morning.

Tele2 is trading lower after SEB downgraded its recommendation to "sell" from "hold." Handelsbanken simultaneously reiterated its "sell" rating.

Morgan Stanley raised its rating on Boliden to "equal-weight" from "underweight." The stock remained unchanged.

Pareto upgraded Assa Abloy to "buy" from "hold," while the recommendation for Alfa Laval was moved in the opposite direction. Assa Abloy rose 0.1 percent, while Alfa Laval lost 0.9 percent.

Barclays lowered its ratings for SEB and Handelsbanken, while upgrading Swedbank.
In terms of share price action, SEB fell 2.3 percent and Handelsbanken dropped 1.4 percent, while Swedbank was down 0.8 percent.