30 AM local time – a gain of roughly 0..4 percent from the previous day’s closing level. Heidelberg Materials, Commerzbank and Vonovia led the gains, while RWE, Siemens Energy and Porsche lagged behind.
Analysts note the DAX is approaching record highs, though currently seems challenging to reach. Market observers indicate investor preference is shifting toward alternative markets. “The artificial intelligence boom is back on the exchanges and that automatically makes the DAX an underperformer” commented Thomas Altmann of QC Partners.
A potential risk factor is emerging from China, where a growing proportion of stock purchases are being financed through credit. This level of credit-funded trading is comparable to a period in May-June 2015, which preceded a nearly 50 percent market decline lasting into 2016.
Market participants are also keenly awaiting the scheduled meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, with high expectations already largely factored into current valuations. However, Altmann cautions that tangible economic benefits, particularly related to the rebuilding of Ukraine, will likely take considerable time to materialize.
In currency markets, the Euro slightly weakened Thursday morning, trading at 1.1686 US dollars; conversely, one US dollar was worth 0.8557 Euros.
Oil prices also saw an increase, with a barrel of Brent crude trading at 65.99 US dollars around 9:00 AM German time, up 36 cents, or 0.6 percent, from the previous day’s close.
