Germany's DAX index rose approximately 0.3% to around 23,840 on Friday afternoon, reaching its highest point since November 14 and marking the fifth consecutive session of gains. The market largely benefited from optimism regarding a potential interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in December. In Europe, investors focused on inflation data to gauge the European Central Bank's forthcoming actions. Preliminary figures indicated that Germany's headline inflation rate remained steady at 2.3% in November 2025, unchanged from October, and slightly below the anticipated 2.4%. In parallel, German lawmakers finalized the 2026 budget after an extended debate over pension reforms, which were supported by young conservative factions.