Stock Markets February 24, 2026

Frankfurt session ends with modest gains as tech, utilities and food stocks lead

DAX closes up 0.12% amid mixed performances across mid- and small-cap indices; volatility and commodity prices move lower

By Hana Yamamoto
Frankfurt session ends with modest gains as tech, utilities and food stocks lead

German equities finished slightly higher on Tuesday, with the DAX up 0.12% at the close as Technology, Utilities and Food & Beverages names provided upward momentum. The MDAX and TecDAX also rose, led by selected rallies in semiconductor and specialty chemical names, while several healthcare and industrial stocks posted notable declines. Market volatility, measured by the DAX volatility index, ticked higher, and key commodity contracts slipped on the day. Currency pairs were broadly unchanged.

Key Points

  • DAX closed up 0.12%, with MDAX up 0.17% and TecDAX up 0.77%; Technology, Utilities and Food & Beverages sectors led gains.
  • Notable individual moves: Continental (ETR:CONG) +3.55%, Symrise (ETR:SY1G) +2.96%, Fresenius Medical Care (ETR:FMEG) -7.51%, MTU Aero Engines (ETR:MTXGn) -6.64%.
  • Volatility rose as the DAX volatility index increased 4.78% to 19.00; gold and oil prices fell while EUR/USD and EUR/GBP were largely unchanged.

Germany's stock market closed in positive territory on Tuesday as gains in Technology, Utilities and Food & Beverages stocks helped push major benchmarks higher. At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX increased 0.12%, the MDAX advanced 0.17%, and the TecDAX rose 0.77%.

Top movers on the DAX

Leading the DAX gainers was Continental AG O.N. (ETR:CONG), which climbed 3.55% - up 2.56 points to finish at 74.72. Symrise AG Inh. O.N. (ETR:SY1G) added 2.96%, or 2.24 points, to close at 78.04, while RWE AG ST O.N. (ETR:RWEG) increased 1.93% - a 1.00 point rise to 52.68.

Largest decliners on the DAX

On the downside, Fresenius Medical Care KGAA ST (ETR:FMEG) fell 7.51%, down 3.11 points to 38.28 at the close. MTU Aero Engines NA O.N. (ETR:MTXGn) declined 6.64%, losing 26.40 points to end at 371.10, and Fresenius SE & Co KGAA O.N. (ETR:FREG) slipped 2.63% - down 1.36 points to 50.36.

MDAX and TecDAX snapshots

Among MDAX components, Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) was the strongest performer, rising 5.23% to 24.16. Nordex SE O.N. (ETR:NDXG) climbed 4.04% to settle at 35.04, and Wacker Chemie O.N. (ETR:WCHG) gained 4.03% to close at 82.55. The weakest MDAX stocks included Thyssenkrupp AG O.N. (ETR:TKAG), which dropped 6.44% to 10.39, Redcare Pharmacy NV (ETR:RDC) which lost 6.11% to finish at 61.45, and flatexDEGIRO AG (ETR:FTKn) which fell 4.37% to 29.30 at the close.

In the TecDAX, Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) recorded the largest gain, jumping 11.29% to 142.00. SUSS MicroTec SE (ETR:SMHNn) added 6.20% to close at 52.10, and Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) again featured among the leaders with its 5.23% rise to 24.16. The laggards on the TecDAX were Nagarro SE (ETR:NA9n), which dropped 8.64% to 57.10, Cancom SE O.N. (ETR:COKG) down 3.96% to 23.05, and Atoss Software AG (ETR:AOFG) which declined 2.89% to 80.60.

Market breadth and record moves

On the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, advancing issues outnumbered decliners by 322 to 290, with 26 stocks unchanged. A number of equities reached notable highs during the session: Continental AG (ETR:CONG) rose to three-year highs at 74.72, Aixtron SE (ETR:AIXGn) hit 52-week highs at 24.16, Nordex SE (ETR:NDXG) marked five-year highs at 35.04, and Elmos Semiconductor AG (ETR:ELGG) reached an all-time high of 142.00. SUSS MicroTec SE (ETR:SMHNn) also climbed to 52-week highs at 52.10.

Volatility, commodities and currencies

The DAX volatility index, which reflects the implied volatility of DAX options, rose 4.78% to 19.00. In commodities markets, Gold Futures for April delivery was down 1.11% or 57.96 to $5,167.64 a troy ounce. Crude oil for April delivery fell 0.51% or 0.34 to $65.97 a barrel, while the May Brent oil contract lost 0.41% or 0.29 to trade at $70.82 a barrel.

In currency markets, EUR/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.03% to 1.18, and EUR/GBP was unchanged by 0.27% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 97.69.

Summary observation

The session closed with modest gains for headline indices led by technology, utilities and food and beverage stocks, while several healthcare and industrial names registered significant declines. Volatility picked up slightly and key commodity contracts moved lower, while major currency pairs showed limited movement.


Data points and prices reported reflect the close in Frankfurt on Tuesday.

Risks

  • Concentration of declines in select healthcare and industrial names - sectors such as healthcare and aerospace showed sharp losses (e.g., Fresenius Medical Care -7.51%, MTU Aero Engines -6.64%).
  • Rising implied volatility - the DAX volatility index increased 4.78% to 19.00, signaling higher option-implied uncertainty for equity traders.
  • Commodity price weakness - declines in gold and crude oil contracts could influence sector performance in materials, energy and commodity-sensitive industries.

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