The DAX 40 surrendered early gains to finish around 0.2% lower on Wednesday, retreating from a new intraday record of 26,574 and snapping a four-session winning streak. The pullback came as investors locked in profits amid persistent uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Market participants also kept a close eye on economic data and corporate earnings.
Sector performance was mixed: software, consumer cyclicals, telecoms, utilities, and automakers faced selling pressure, while industrial and technology shares advanced. E.ON declined nearly 3% after reporting only modest earnings growth for the first half, with the CEO cautioning about potential threats to Germany’s energy infrastructure. Brenntag slipped 2.2% after JPMorgan reiterated its Sell rating despite a solid second-quarter performance and an improved full-year earnings outlook.
On the upside, Rheinmetall topped the blue-chip index with a 2.3% gain, followed by Siemens Energy, which rose 1.9%, and Infineon Technologies, up 1.1%. TKMS was a standout, surging 8.5% on the back of strong results and an upgraded full-year revenue forecast.
