The DAX finished the day up, closing at 24,998 points-an increase of 0.8 % versus the previous day’s close. Throughout the session the index hovered around that level, holding its gains in the late afternoon.
“Exactly as yesterday’s futures and today’s pre‑market indicated, the downward momentum in New York continues unabated after the long weekend” said Andreas Lipkow, chief market analyst at CMC Markets. “The unexpectedly strong Empire State Index has, in part, pulled the rate‑cut fantasy out of the market again, if it ever truly returned after the softer labor‑market data. That indicator has recently behaved in a very jumpy way, which likely explains today’s upside surprise”.
Lipkow added that future market direction will likely hinge on whether worries about AI‑driven disruption across many sectors will still influence the corresponding stocks. “Most recently, software firms, logistics and financial services have been hit” he said. “Although those concerns play a secondary role in the DAX, investors are increasingly tilting toward defensive sectors and buying shares of Von ovia, Bayer and Zalando”.
Just before the market closed, the leaders were Bayer, Von ovia and Infineon, while Siemens Energy, Daimler Truck and Qiagen were at the bottom of the list.
Gas prices fell: a megawatt‑hour of gas for March delivery cost €30, down four percent from the day before. That would translate into a consumer price of about seven to nine cents per kilowatt‑hour (kWh) when taxes and other charges are included, if the level were to persist.
Brent crude also slipped; the North Sea Brent barrel priced at $67.20 in the late afternoon-55 cents, or 0.8 %, below the previous day’s close.
The euro fell in the afternoon: €1 = $1.1827, meaning $1 = €0.8455.