The DAX climbed sharply on Tuesday, closing at 23,969 points on the Xetra exchange – a gain of 2.4 % compared with the previous day’s close. After an initially very positive start, the index remained clearly in the upside despite some volatility.
Investors first turned their attention to oil price developments but then looked for buying opportunities among German blue‑chips. The focus shifted to Volkswagen, whose Wolfsburg‑based automaker reported last year’s results. The review stayed within the very low expectations that had been set beforehand and even slightly outperformed those expectations, especially with a dividend that was not as sharply cut. The company’s outlook convinced many investors and reignited interest in VW shares.
Other stocks also attracted buying. Companies with solid investment narratives, such as Infineon and Siemens Energy, benefited from renewed interest in artificial‑intelligence hype. Banks, in turn, were sought after because of high trading volumes in financial markets. However, investors remain wary of developments in the Middle East and are likely to stay cautious if the DAX stays above the 24,000‑point level. With many questions about the war’s progression or possible end unresolved, the future impact on energy prices remains unclear.
By the close of trading, Infineon, Bayer, Continental and Siemens Energy topped the price list in Frankfurt. SAP and Scout24 fell to the bottom of the standings.
Meanwhile, the price of gas fell. One megawatt‑hour (MWh) of gas for April delivery cost €47 – a 16 % drop from the previous day – implying a consumer price of roughly 9-12 cents per kilowatt‑hour (kWh) when ancillary costs and taxes are included, assuming the price level stays that way.
Oil prices also slipped sharply. In the afternoon on Tuesday, a barrel of Brent crude was priced at $89.28, down 9.8 % (968 cents) from the previous session’s close.
At the same time, the euro strengthened slightly. One euro was worth $1.1649, which means one dollar traded at €0.8584.