German stocks ended the trading day higher on Wednesday, with gains concentrated in Technology, Industrials and Software stocks that pushed the main benchmark to a fresh one-month peak.
At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX rose 1.16%, the MDAX added 1.07% and the TecDAX gained 1.28%.
Among individual names on the DAX, Rheinmetall AG (ETR:RHMG) was the session's strongest performer, advancing 5.12% - an 82.50 point increase - to finish at 1,694.00. Heidelberg Materials AG (ETR:HEIG) climbed 4.64%, or 9.05 points, to close at 204.00. Siemens AG Class N (ETR:SIEGn) also posted solid gains, rising 3.84% or 9.05 points to end the session at 244.80.
Not all large caps took part in the rally. Bayer AG NA (ETR:BAYGN) led decliners on the DAX, dropping 7.11% or 3.51 points to close at 45.81. Brenntag AG (ETR:BNRGn) fell 4.70%, a 2.70 point loss, to finish at 54.76, while Deutsche Telekom AG Na (ETR:DTEGn) slipped 2.97% or 0.99 points to 32.37.
The MDAX also saw pronounced movers. Hochtief AG (ETR:HOTG) paced the index, rising 5.03% to 404.80. RENK Group AG (ETR:R3NK) climbed 4.83% to settle at 61.03, and Delivery Hero AG (ETR:DHER) gained 4.71% to close at 21.57. At the same time, Tag Immobilien AG (ETR:TEGG) fell 3.74% to 15.95, Redcare Pharmacy NV (ETR:RDC) lost 3.39% to 66.95 and LEG Immobilien AG (ETR:LEGn) declined 3.35% to 66.30 at the close.
On the TecDAX, SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92G) led the winners with a 4.63% rise to 34.36. Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) increased 4.34% to settle at 129.80, while Jenoptik AG (ETR:JENGn) added 4.24% to close at 28.00. The index's weakest names included Deutsche Telekom AG Na (ETR:DTEGn), down 2.97% to 32.37, Atoss Software AG (ETR:AOFG), off 1.32% to 82.40, and 11 AG (ETR:1U1), which dropped 1.23% to 24.15.
Market breadth on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange favoured rising issues, with 401 stocks higher versus 228 decliners and 22 unchanged.
Several stocks reached notable milestones during the session. Hochtief AG (ETR:HOTG) shares climbed to an all-time high, gaining 5.03% or 19.40 to 404.80. Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) also traded at all-time highs, rising 4.34% or 5.40 to 129.80. On the downside, Atoss Software AG (ETR:AOFG) slid to 52-week lows, losing 1.32% or 1.10 to 82.40, while Jenoptik AG (ETR:JENGn) moved to 52-week highs, up 4.24% or 1.14 to 28.00.
Volatility on the benchmark eased as the DAX volatility index, which measures implied volatility of DAX options, fell 2.71% to 19.17.
Commodities saw broad gains during the session. Gold futures for April delivery advanced 2.32% - an increase of 113.74 - to $5,019.64 a troy ounce. In energy trading, crude oil for April delivery rose 3.60% or 2.24 to $64.50 a barrel, while the April Brent contract climbed 3.41% or 2.30 to trade at $69.72 a barrel.
Currency markets showed modest moves. EUR/USD was unchanged 0.36% to 1.18, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.14% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.38% at 97.43.
Context and takeaway
The session featured a broad advance across major German indices, led by Technology, Industrials and Software stocks. While several large-cap names recorded outsized gains and some reached new highs, certain prominent companies registered notable declines. Volatility eased and commodity prices moved higher ahead of the next trading day.