The DAX 40 closed 1.3% lower at 24,796 on Wednesday, erasing the gains from the previous session, as optimism over a swift resolution to the Middle East conflict faded and investors braced for potential new US tariffs under a Trump administration. Renewed hostilities in the region and mixed signals on the progress of peace talks kept market sentiment fragile.
At the same time, the US administration pledged to introduce tariffs of 10%–12.5% on key trading partners, including the EU and the UK, over alleged ties to goods produced with forced labour, adding to the risk-off mood.
On the corporate front, Scout24 and SAP were among the worst performers, dropping 4.9% and 4.1%, respectively. Deutsche Bank lost 3.7% after CFO Raja Akram indicated that provisions for bad loans in the second quarter could come in above analysts’ estimates. The auto sector also retreated, with Mercedes-Benz Group down 3.1% and BMW off 2.3%.
In contrast, RWE led the gainers, advancing 3.7%, followed by Merck with a 2.1% rise, while Bayer and E.ON each added 1.7%.
