The DAX 40 index in Frankfurt, Germany, experienced a decline of approximately 0.5% on Thursday, settling at 24,491, which marked the third consecutive session of losses. This downturn in investor sentiment was driven by concerns over market valuations, significant investments in artificial intelligence, and troubling employment figures from the United States. Investors were also processing the latest developments in monetary policy and corporate earnings reports. As expected, the European Central Bank (ECB) maintained its interest rate at 2%, a level unchanged since June. The ECB highlighted the resilience of the eurozone's economy, noting that the overall balance of inflation risks remains stable, despite ongoing trade and geopolitical challenges. Among the decliners, Rheinmetall suffered the largest drop, sliding 5.8% in response to disappointing preliminary forecasts for 2026. The banking sector also faced selling pressure, with Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank each losing over 3%. Automotive giants Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz Group fell by 4.1% and 2.8% respectively, influenced by disappointing results from Volvo. Conversely, Deutsche Borse, Infineon Technologies, and SAP experienced gains of 3.5%, 2.7%, and 2% respectively.