DAX Slightly Down
The DAX 40 edged lower toward 25,300 after a positive start on Friday, as some investors took profits from recent highs ahead of the weekend. Attention remained on economic data, corporate updates and geopolitics. Meanwhile, broader market sentiment remained supported by ongoing optimism around tech and AI. On the geopolitical front, frictions between the United States and Europe over Greenland, as well as disputes related to the Iranian issue, persist. Among stocks, Daimler Truck Holdings was among the top losers, down around 2%, after reporting a 8% drop in 2025 sales, hit by weaker demand in North America. In contrast, shares linked to the energy transition and AI were in demand, with Siemens Energy rising about 3% to lead the DAX, and RWE gaining 1.2%. Defense names such as Hensoldt (3.1%), Renk (0.7%) and Rheinmetall (0.6%) also advanced. For the week, the index was set to gain about 0.2%.
CAC 40 Ticks Down on Week’s Final Session
The CAC 40 slipped 0.3% to around 8,285 on Friday, marking its fifth consecutive session of losses as investors grew more cautious after the index touched a record high earlier this week. Sentiment was further weighed down by ongoing uncertainty surrounding French budget negotiations. Essilor led the declines, falling 2.7%, followed by Kering (-1.5%), Renault (-1.16%), Air Liquide (-0.8%) and TotalEnergies (-0.7%). Losses were partly offset by gains in defense stocks, which rebounded after two sessions of declines. Thales rose 2.1%, Safran gained 1.6% and Airbus advanced 1.0%, leading the sector higher. Elsewhere, Publicis (+1.6%), Orange (+1.4%) and Eurofins Scientific (+0.7%) also posted notable gains. On the political front, the French government postponed parliamentary discussions on the 2026 budget from Friday to next Tuesday after lawmakers failed to reach a compromise, adding to investor uncertainty.
