The DAX 40 declined about 1% to around 25,200 on Wednesday, extending the previous session’s losses as escalating tensions in the Middle East weighed on risk sentiment. The United States carried out multiple strikes against Iran and reimposed sanctions on its oil sector, following alleged Iranian attacks on three vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The renewed geopolitical friction sent oil prices higher, stoking concerns about inflation and the prospect of prolonged higher interest rates ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve’s June meeting minutes this evening.
At the same time, investors further pared positions in semiconductor and AI-related stocks amid growing unease over stretched valuations. Selling pressure was broad-based across sectors, with utilities the only notable exception. Among individual names, Vonovia (-3.2%), Rheinmetall (-3.1%), MTU Aero Engines (-2.5%), Deutsche Bank (-2.5%) and SAP (-2.2%) recorded the steepest declines. On the upside, E.ON, RWE and Scout24 outperformed, gaining between 0.8% and 1.3%.
