The DAX 40 fell 0.6% on Tuesday, slipping below the 25,000 mark and reversing the modest gains of the previous session, as escalating tensions between the US and Iran unsettled markets. The US announcement of a renewed naval blockade around Iranian ports, coupled with President Trump’s proposal to impose a 20% fee on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz, sent oil prices sharply higher. This surge in energy costs has rekindled concerns over a potential resurgence in inflation and the prospect of tighter monetary policy.
At the same time, investors shifted their focus to earnings releases from major US banks. Selling pressure was broad-based, with travel and leisure, industrials, software, pharmaceuticals, and retail stocks all underperforming. In contrast, the chemicals, automotive, and utilities sectors managed to advance, defying the overall negative market tone. Among individual names, industrial heavyweight Rheinmetall dropped 2.6%, while Lufthansa lost 1.8% and TUI declined 2%, making them some of the session’s worst performers.
