Germany's equity market finished mixed after the close on Thursday, with a clear divergence between the session's sector winners and laggards. Gains in Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare, Media and Telecoms helped lift headline readings, while losses in Construction, Technology and Basic Resources weighed on other segments of the market.
At the close in Frankfurt the DAX added 2.02% to register a new all-time high, the MDAX rose 1.33% and the TecDAX lost 0.12%.
Top movers on the DAX
The session's strongest performers on the DAX included Bayer AG NA (BAYGN), which climbed 8.90% or 4.36 points to finish at 53.36. Rheinmetall AG (RHMG) advanced 6.13% or 64.40 points to end at 1,115.00, while Vonovia SE (VNAn) rose 6.00% or 1.28 points to close at 22.62.
On the downside, Infineon Technologies AG NA O.N. (IFXGn) fell 1.99% or 1.55 points to trade at 76.35 at the close. Scout24 AG (G24n) declined 0.40% or 0.30 points to 74.50. Beiersdorf AG O.N. (BEIG) was a modest gainer of 0.52% or 0.40 points to close at 76.68.
MDAX and TecDAX
In the MDAX, Thyssenkrupp AG O.N. (TKAG) led the advances with an 8.86% rise to 11.37. Hensoldt Ag (HAGG) increased 8.55% to settle at 76.96 and CTS Eventim AG (EVDG) gained 7.97% to close at 57.55.
The weakest MDAX names included Aixtron SE (AIXGn), which dropped 9.88% to 46.50 in late trade. Hochtief AG (HOTG) lost 1.89% to finish at 487.00 and Bechtle AG (BC8G) declined 1.63% to 31.42.
Within the TecDAX, Hensoldt Ag (HAGG) was again among the top risers, up 8.55% to 76.96. Deutsche Telekom AG Na (DTEGn) rose 3.33% to 25.10 and Cancom SE O.N. (COKG) gained 3.14% to close at 24.65.
TecDAX laggards included Aixtron SE (AIXGn) down 9.88% to 46.50, SUSS MicroTec SE (SMHNn) which slipped 8.57% to 83.80 and Jenoptik AG (JENGn) which lost 5.51% to end at 42.90.
Market breadth and notable readings
Rising issues outnumbered decliners on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by 438 to 228, with 23 shares unchanged at the close. Bayer's shares reached three-year highs in the session, with the stock gaining 8.90% or 4.36 to 53.36.
The DAX volatility index, a gauge of implied volatility for DAX options, declined 3.11% to 16.04, marking a new three-month low for that measure.
Commodities and foreign exchange
In commodities trading, Gold Futures for August delivery were up 1.34% or 54.60 to $4,137.00 a troy ounce. Crude oil for delivery in August fell 1.04% or 0.71 to $67.87 a barrel, while the September Brent contract was down 0.96% or 0.69 to $70.88 a barrel.
In currency markets, EUR/USD rose 0.56% to 1.14, while EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged, moving 0.05% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures was lower by 0.60%, trading at 100.55.
Overall, Thursday's close left the German benchmark at an all-time high amid selective sector strength. The session reflected a mix of sizable single-name moves and broader market stability as measured by lower implied volatility and positive breadth.