The DAX 40 trimmed earlier losses to trade slightly lower around 25,015 on Wednesday, as investors weighed a fresh batch of corporate earnings against intensifying tensions in the Middle East. Oil prices stayed elevated after renewed US strikes on Iran and the reinstatement of a blockade on its ports. At the same time, President Trump issued a new ultimatum to Tehran, warning that Washington would extend its military campaign to target key infrastructure unless an agreement is reached by next week.
Selling pressure was broad-based, with chemicals and technology stocks underperforming. BASF (-4.7%) fell to the bottom of the index despite strong preliminary figures, as the decision to leave its free cash flow guidance unchanged disappointed investors and stoked concerns about profitability. In the semiconductor space, robust results from ASML Holding offered only limited support to the German chip sector: Infineon Technologies declined 3.2% and Siltronic lost 4.7%, while Jenoptik and LPKF bucked the trend, gaining 2.1% and 4.7%, respectively.
