German equities closed the trading session higher on Wednesday as gains in retail, software and food & beverages supported the market. At the Frankfurt close, the DAX was up 0.18%, the MDAX added 1.13% and the TecDAX climbed 1.53%.
Index movers and session leaders
Among DAX components, Brenntag AG (ETR:BNRGn) was the best performer, rising 2.33% or 1.32 points to finish at 57.96. SAP SE (ETR:SAPG) advanced 2.15% or 3.08 points to close at 146.54, and Rheinmetall AG (ETR:RHMG) gained 1.92% or 28.60 points to end the day at 1,515.20.
On the downside, Fresenius Medical Care KGAA ST (ETR:FMEG) led DAX decliners, slipping 2.42% or 0.96 points to 38.69 at the close. Fresenius SE & Co KGAA O.N. (ETR:FREG) fell 1.83% or 0.82 points to 44.03, while BASF SE NA O.N. (ETR:BASFN) lost 1.54% or 0.83 points to finish at 52.90.
MDAX and TecDAX outperformers
The MDAX posted stronger gains, with Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) surging 20.35% to 42.35, Delivery Hero AG (ETR:DHER) rising 8.16% to 18.77 and TeamViewer AG (ETR:TMV) adding 5.60% to close at 4.64.
MDAX laggards included Bilfinger SE O.N. (ETR:GBFG), which declined 2.86% to 108.50, Deutsche Lufthansa AG (ETR:LHAG) which dropped 2.30% to 7.82 and Hochtief AG (ETR:HOTG) down 2.22% to 457.60.
The TecDAX also saw a strong day among technology names. Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) led gains on the tech index, up 20.35% to 42.35. SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92G) climbed 6.49% to 52.50, and TeamViewer AG (ETR:TMV) rose 5.60% to 4.64. On the downside in the TecDAX, Draegerwerk VZO O.N. (ETR:DRWG_p) fell 1.34% to 95.70, Freenet AG NA (ETR:FNTGn) lost 0.88% to 27.08 and Deutsche Telekom AG Na (ETR:DTEGn) dipped 0.66% to 28.55.
Market breadth and notable highs
Rising stocks outweighed decliners on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by 335 to 290, with 25 issues unchanged. Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) recorded an all-time high, moving up 20.35% or 7.16 to 42.35. SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92G) reached a 52-week high, climbing 6.49% or 3.20 to 52.50.
Volatility, commodities and currencies
The DAX volatility index, which tracks implied volatility in DAX options, fell 9.48% to 20.41, marking a new one-month low.
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for June delivery were reported down 0.41% or 20.00 to $4,830.10 a troy ounce. Crude oil for May delivery rose 0.84% or 0.77 to $92.05 a barrel, while the June Brent contract increased 0.96% or 0.91 to trade at $95.70 a barrel.
In foreign exchange markets, the EUR/USD rate was essentially unchanged, moving 0.03% to 1.18, and EUR/GBP was unchanged by 0.02% at 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped 0.05% to 97.86.
Summary
Overall, German stock indices closed higher led by gains in retail, software and food & beverages, with mid- and small-cap technology names notably outperforming. Market breadth favoured advancing issues and volatility fell to a one-month low, while commodity and FX moves were mixed.