The DAX 40 rose about 0.3% on Friday to trade slightly above the 26,000 mark, breaking a four-session losing streak, driven mainly by gains in technology and utility stocks. Overall sentiment remained cautious, however, as elevated oil prices and bond yields, together with ongoing geopolitical tensions, continued to weigh on risk appetite.
On the macroeconomic front, Germany’s private sector maintained a modest pace of expansion in August. A solid rebound in manufacturing offset another decline in services activity. Among individual stocks, chipmaker Infineon Technologies, AI-focused builder Hochtief, and Siemens Energy were notable gainers, rising 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1%, respectively. Utility group RWE also outperformed, climbing 1.9%.
On the downside, Qiagen NV, MTU Aero Engines, Rheinmetall, Bayer, and Fresenius Medical Care were among the worst performers, with losses ranging from 1% to 1.9%. Despite Friday’s uptick, the DAX 40 was on track for its first weekly decline in five weeks, down roughly 1.5% over the period.
