Frankfurt’s DAX rose 0.3% to trade slightly above 27,300 on Wednesday, attempting to recover after two straight days of losses, as investors watched trade negotiations ahead of the tariff deadline. President Trump confirmed on Tuesday no extension beyond July 9 for reciprocal tariffs if no deal is reached, expressing confidence in a US-India deal but skepticism about Japan.
Meanwhile, US-EU trade talks continue, with the US reportedly pushing a 10% tariff and the EU seeking exemptions for sectors like alcohol, aircraft, pharma, and semiconductors. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Sintra as ECB President Christine Lagarde prepares to speak at the central bank’s forum in Portugal later today. On the corporate front, auto stocks led the gains, with BMW rising 2.7%, followed by Daimler Truck Holding and Mercedes-Benz Group, while tech names like Infineon Technologies and banks were also among the top performers. Conversely, defense stocks, including Rheinmetall (-2.4%), underperformed.
