Frankfurt’s DAX 40 inched up to around 24,100 on Thursday, hovering near one-week highs, supported by optimism over developments in the Middle East conflict. Reports suggested that the US and Iran may extend their ceasefire by two weeks to allow additional time to negotiate a peace agreement, potentially including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and new provisions on Iranian nuclear enrichment. At the same time, the US naval blockade continues to constrain traffic along this critical oil transit route.
Investors also focused on the ongoing earnings season. Technology stocks led sector gains, helped by strength in semiconductor maker ASML. SAP and Infineon rose 1.6% and 1.4%, respectively. Other notable gainers included Zalando, Adidas, Airbus, and Brenntag, each adding between 0.9% and 1.6%. On the downside, Deutsche Telekom (-1.8%), Qiagen NV (-1.5%), and Daimler Truck (-1.4%) were among the session’s weakest performers.
