FX.co ★ DAX Ends Slightly Higher

The DAX index in Frankfurt edged slightly higher to finish at 23,681.7 on Wednesday, marking its second consecutive day of gains. This upward movement was primarily driven by defense stocks following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump concerning Ukraine. On Tuesday, Trump hinted at a significant policy change, suggesting the possibility of Ukraine reclaiming all its territories from Russia. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated a cautious stance on further monetary easing, citing persistent risks related to inflation and labor market disparities. Back in Germany, business sentiment witnessed a sharp decline in September compared to August, defying analysts' expectations, as revealed by the IFO data. In the corporate sector, defense stocks such as Renk (+7%), Hensoldt (+6.7%), and Rheinmetall (+3.5%) notably surged. Other significant gainers included Commerzbank (+4.4%), Zalando (+2.7%), and Siemens Energy (+2.3%). Conversely, the session's biggest decliners were Merck (-2.7%), Daimler Truck (-1.9%), and Symrise (-1.7%).