The DAX Index Closes 0.78% Lower

The DAX Index decreased -184 points or 0.78 percent on Friday to close at 23406 points. The decline was led by Siemens Energy (-6.09%), Volkswagen (-3.24%) and Siemens (-2.20%). On the upside, the strongest performers were Zalando (7.63%), Rheinmetall (2.84%) and RWE (2.55%).

Frankfurt's DAX 40 moved back into negative territory on Friday, falling 0.8% to around 23,400, amid ongoing volatility driven by the Middle East conflict. Investors grew more cautious ahead of the weekend as rhetoric between Washington and Tehran remains tense, offering little hope for de-escalation and reviving fears of a prolonged energy crisis. Industrials and banks were among the most pressured, while utilities advanced the most. On equities, Siemens Energy, Volkswagen and Daimler Truck Holding were the biggest laggards, losing between 2.7% and 6.3%. By contrast, Zalando outperformed, up 6.8%, after Bernstein upgraded it from “underperform” to “market perform" and raised its price target to EUR 25.00 from EUR 23.00. The stock was further boosted by Thursday’s share buyback announcement, favorable 2026 guidance, and a fresh e-commerce agreement with Levi Strauss. E.ON, RWE and Rheinmetall also advanced firmly. The index posted a weekly loss of 0.8%.

Frankfurt's DAX 40 turned slightly positive on Friday, trading around 23,650 after a weak start, as the reversal in crude oil prices helped to ease investors' nerves around the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, the situation remains tense and volatility should continue. Zalando remained at the forefront, up 8.7%, after Bernstein upgraded it from “underperform” to “market perform" and raised its price target to EUR 25.00 from EUR 23.00. The stock also continued to benefit from Thursday’s share buyback announcement, a new Levi Strauss e-commerce deal, and a positive outlook for 2026. Rheinmetall and E.ON were also among the top performers, rising 3% and 2.1%, respectively. On the opposite side, Siemens Energy (-2.3%), Volkswagen (-1.9%), Siemens (-1.4%) and Adidas (-1.4%) posted the steepest losses.