Frankfurt's DAX 40 closed about 1.1% lower at 23,807 on Thursday, erasing part of the previous session’s 5.1% surge, as investors weighed mounting uncertainty over a potential truce in the Middle East. Iran accused Israel of jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire with continued heavy airstrikes in Lebanon and warned it could abandon negotiations with the United States. At the same time, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked, pushing oil prices higher again amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions.
On the corporate front, SAP was the session’s worst performer, dropping nearly 7%, while Airbus and Siemens declined 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively. Auto stocks also came under pressure, led by Mercedes-Benz, which slipped 1.6% after reporting a fall in first-quarter car sales. In contrast, Brenntag (+2.9%), BASF (+2.6%) and Hannover Rück (+2.1%) stood out as the top gainers.
