Shares on Germany's main exchange ended the trading session higher on Thursday, driven by strength in the Retail, Software and Technology sectors. At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX climbed 0.35% to mark a fresh one-month high. The MDAX increased 0.21%, and the TecDAX advanced 1.25%.
Leading the winners on the DAX were Brenntag AG (ETR:BNRGn), which rose 4.14% or 2.40 points to finish at 60.36. Scout24 AG (ETR:G24n) added 3.87% or 2.60 points to end the day at 69.70. SAP SE (ETR:SAPG) also posted strong gains, up 3.49% or 5.12 points to close at 151.66.
On the downside, Mercedes Benz Group AG (ETR:MBGn) slipped 2.04% or 1.11 points to 53.35 at the close. Merck KGaA (ETR:MRCG) fell 1.71% or 2.00 points to 115.15, while RWE AG ST O.N. (ETR:RWEG) declined 1.66% or 0.98 points to 58.10.
Among MDAX constituents, Redcare Pharmacy NV (ETR:RDC) was the session's strongest performer, gaining 9.49% to finish at 48.94. Delivery Hero AG (ETR:DHER) rose 7.33% to settle at 20.14, and IONOS Group SE (ETR:IOSn) climbed 6.97% to close at 26.70. The weakest MDAX names included Fraport AG (ETR:FRAG), down 3.56% to 73.10, Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ETR:LHAG), which lost 3.43% to end at 7.55, and Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn), which fell 3.40% to 40.91.
Tech-heavy TecDAX action mirrored portions of the MDAX. IONOS Group SE (ETR:IOSn) again stood out with a 6.97% gain to 26.70. Nemetschek AG O.N. (ETR:NEKG) rose 5.88% to 63.05, and TeamViewer AG (ETR:TMV) added 4.57% to close at 4.85. Among lagging TecDAX names, Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) was down 3.40% to 40.91, SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92G) lost 3.33% to settle at 50.75, and Sartorius AG VZO O.N. (ETR:SATG_p) declined 1.38% to 228.00.
Market breadth on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange was positive: 382 stocks rose versus 238 decliners, and 25 issues finished unchanged.
The DAX volatility index, which reflects the implied volatility of DAX options, increased 0.83% to 20.58.
Commodity markets recorded mixed moves. Gold Futures for June delivery ticked up 0.10% or 4.94 to $4,828.54 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for May delivery gained 2.48% or 2.26 to $93.55 a barrel, while the June Brent contract rose 3.73% or 3.54 to trade at $98.47 a barrel.
In foreign exchange trading, the EUR/USD rate was unchanged 0.16% at 1.18, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.08% at 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures moved up 0.15% to 98.00.
Summary of session outcomes:
- DAX: +0.35% to a one-month high.
- MDAX: +0.21%.
- TecDAX: +1.25%.
- Market breadth: 382 advancers, 238 decliners, 25 unchanged.
Overall, Thursday's trading produced sector-specific gains concentrated in retail, software and technology stocks, while several industrial and utility names experienced declines. Volatility gauge for the DAX edged higher, and commodities and currencies showed modest directional moves.