The Dax index experienced a fluctuating session on Friday, shifting from initial losses to a modest gain by midday. Around 12:30 PM local time, the benchmark index was calculated at approximately 24,325 points, representing a 0.1 percent increase from the previous day’s closing level.
Leading the gains were shares of Merck, Sartorius and Zalando. Conversely, stocks of Eon, Heidelberg Materials and Commerzbank registered declines.
Market analyst Andreas Lipkow noted a lack of strong momentum, characterizing trading as sluggish ahead of the weekend. Recently released German GDP figures initially prompted some disappointment, though expectations for weak data had been widespread. “Market participants are now focused on the speech by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell” Lipkow added.
The Euro exhibited a slight weakening against the US dollar on Friday afternoon. One Euro was trading at 1.1599 US dollars, while one US dollar could be exchanged for 0.8621 Euros.
Meanwhile, crude oil prices declined. A barrel of Brent crude was trading at 67.51 US dollars around 12:00 PM German time, a decrease of 16 cents, or 0.2 percent, from the previous day’s closing price.
