Germany's main stock gauges closed lower on Tuesday as weakness across the Retail, Software and Media sectors pressured the market. At the final bell in Frankfurt, the DAX registered a 0.09% decline, the MDAX eased 0.03% and the TecDAX fell 1.00%.
Market breadth in Frankfurt showed rising issues outnumbered decliners, with 339 stocks finishing higher against 304 that fell, while 19 ended unchanged.
Top gainers and laggards
Among the largest movers on the DAX, Daimler Truck Holding AG (ETR:DTGGe) led gains, finishing up 5.87% - a 2.43 point rise to close at 43.81. Siemens Energy AG (ETR:ENR1n) added 4.70%, up 6.95 points to finish at 154.90, and Brenntag AG (ETR:BNRGn) rose 2.21%, or 1.12 points, to end the day at 51.82.
On the downside, Zalando SE (ETR:ZALG) was the weakest DAX stock, falling 12.08% or 2.95 points to close at 21.48. Scout24 AG (ETR:G24n) declined 5.18% or 4.35 points to 79.65, and SAP SE (ETR:SAPG) slipped 4.63% - an 8.10 point drop to 167.00 at the close.
MDAX and TecDAX movers
The MDAX featured several strong performers: Sartorius AG VZO O.N. (ETR:SATG_p) climbed 7.71% to 252.90, Thyssenkrupp AG O.N. (ETR:TKAG) gained 5.95% to settle at 11.84, and Traton SE (ETR:8TRA) advanced 5.78% to close at 35.14. Conversely, AUTO1 Group SE (ETR:AG1G) fell 8.15% to 26.60, Nemetschek AG O.N. (ETR:NEKG) lost 6.24% to 72.10 and Stroeer SE (ETR:SAXG) dropped 4.87% to 32.25.
On the TecDAX, Evotec AG O.N. (ETR:EVTG) posted a 9.49% gain to 6.46, and Sartorius AG VZO O.N. (ETR:SATG_p) again appeared among the leaders with a 7.71% rise to 252.90. 11 AG (ETR:1U1) increased 2.06% to close at 27.25. The weakest names included Siltronic AG (ETR:WAFGn), down 8.13% to 47.82, Atoss Software AG (ETR:AOFG), which fell 8.07% to 90.00, and Nemetschek AG O.N. (ETR:NEKG), down 6.24% to 72.10.
Highs and lows, volatility and commodities
Several individual stocks reached notable price milestones during the session. Shares of Zalando SE (ETR:ZALG) fell to 52-week lows after the 12.08% drop to 21.48. Scout24 AG (ETR:G24n) also touched 52-week lows, closing at 79.65 after a 5.18% decline. Nemetschek AG O.N. (ETR:NEKG) recorded a 52-week low at 72.10 following a 6.24% slide. Atoss Software AG (ETR:AOFG) dropped to 52-week lows as well, losing 8.07% to 90.00. Stroeer SE (ETR:SAXG) fell to 5-year lows, closing down 4.87% at 32.25.
On the positive side, Siemens Energy AG (ETR:ENR1n) rose to an all-time high, ending the day at 154.90 after a 4.70% gain. 11 AG (ETR:1U1) climbed to a 3-year high, gaining 2.06% to finish at 27.25.
The DAX volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of DAX options, moved lower by 8.41% to 17.97, signaling a drop in option-implied volatility during the session.
Commodities and FX moves recorded in the same trading window included Gold Futures for April delivery, which were reported up 6.86% or 319.09 to $4,971.69 a troy ounce. Crude oil for March delivery rose 0.72% or 0.45 to $62.59 a barrel, while the April Brent contract increased 0.50% or 0.33 to trade at $66.63 a barrel. In currency trading, EUR/USD was unchanged at a 0.31% move to 1.18, and EUR/GBP was unchanged at a 0.03% move to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures declined 0.28% to 97.22.
Closing observations
Tuesday's trading produced a mixed picture: market-wide indices posted modest declines while several individual stocks and subsectors produced outsized moves in both directions. The session featured a cluster of sharp losses among retailers and software-related names even as industrials and select capital goods companies registered notable gains.