Frankfurt’s DAX 40 surrendered early gains to finish slightly lower at 24,094 on Monday, as investors remained cautious amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty and a busy week of central bank meetings, key economic releases, and corporate earnings. Iran has reportedly submitted a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt the conflict, following the cancellation of talks in Pakistan, while President Trump indicated that further negotiations could proceed by phone.
In monetary policy, the Federal Reserve is set to announce its decision on Wednesday, with the European Central Bank and the Bank of England following on Thursday. On the data front, German consumer confidence deteriorated more than expected, dropping in May to its lowest level in more than three years.
Among the index’s laggards, Siemens Energy fell more than 5%, while Merck declined 2.8%, Deutsche Telekom 2.7%, and Hannover Rück 2.7%. On the upside, Siemens advanced 3.2% and Rheinmetall gained 2.1%. Commerzbank climbed 1.9% after Bank of America upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Neutral.”
