Germany's main equity indices closed in negative territory on Wednesday as losses concentrated in the Software, Retail and Construction sectors put downward pressure on the market. At the close in Frankfurt the DAX fell 0.43%, the MDAX dropped 1.07% and the TecDAX retreated 0.98%.
Among DAX components, Siemens Energy AG (ETR:ENR1n) was the session's top performer, rising 8.40% or 12.65 points to finish at 163.25. Vonovia SE (ETR:VNAn) added 2.83% or 0.71 points to end at 25.80, and E.ON SE (ETR:EONGn) rose 1.88% or 0.34 points to close at 18.20.
On the downside, Zalando SE (ETR:ZALG) led decliners on the DAX, slipping 6.70% or 1.50 points to close at 20.90. SAP SE (ETR:SAPG) lost 5.21% or 9.28 points to end the session at 169.00, while Scout24 AG (ETR:G24n) fell 4.07% or 3.05 points to finish at 71.95.
The MDAX saw Wacker Chemie O.N. (ETR:WCHG) as its strongest name, up 6.54% to 83.90. Thyssenkrupp AG O.N. (ETR:TKAG) rose 4.38% to settle at 12.27, and Deutsche Wohnen AG (ETR:DWNG) gained 3.70% to close at 22.40.
Conversely, the MDAX's largest falls included flatexDEGIRO AG (ETR:FTKn), which declined 10.92% to 35.74 in late trade. AUTO1 Group SE (ETR:AG1G) dropped 7.41% to settle at 21.74, and Tui AG NA (ETR:TUI1n) fell 6.84% to 8.28 at the close.
In the TecDAX, Siltronic AG (ETR:WAFGn) led gains with a 2.57% rise to 57.90. SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92G) advanced 2.23% to 34.86, and Infineon Technologies AG NA O.N. (ETR:IFXGn) moved up 1.50% to 43.51.
The sector index also recorded notable losers: Nemetschek AG O.N. (ETR:NEKG) fell 5.31% to 67.75 in late trade, SAP SE (ETR:SAPG) was down 5.21% to 169.00, and Cancom SE O.N. (ETR:COKG) slid 4.66% to 23.55 at the close.
Market breadth in Frankfurt favored decliners, with 358 stocks falling versus 287 advancing and 13 ending unchanged. Several individual share-price milestones were recorded during the session. Siemens Energy's shares rose to an all-time high, increasing 8.40% or 12.65 to 163.25. Zalando's stock fell to a 52-week low, down 6.70% or 1.50 to 20.90. E.ON's shares reached a five-year high, up 1.88% or 0.34 to 18.20. Scout24 dipped to a 52-week low after losing 4.07% or 3.05 to 71.95, while Nemetschek also hit a 52-week low, falling 5.31% or 3.80 to 67.75. Infineon rose to a five-year high, climbing 1.50% or 0.64 to 43.51.
The DAX volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of DAX options, edged up 0.30% to 17.59.
Commodities displayed upward moves on the day. Gold Futures for April delivery advanced 1.40% or 70.50 to $5,101.50 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 1.72% or 1.10 to $65.06 a barrel, and the April Brent contract gained 1.58% or 1.09 to trade at $69.89 a barrel.
In currency trading, EUR/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.09% to 1.19, while EUR/GBP was unchanged, moving 0.15% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures ticked up 0.02% to 96.69.
These moves left the main German indices lower at the close, with losses concentrated in several cyclical and technology-linked sectors. The session combined pronounced individual stock volatility with modest increases in commodity prices and a small uptick in implied volatility for DAX options.