DAX 40 Edges Up on Monday
Frankfurt’s DAX 40 rose 0.2% to 24,950 on Monday, recovering slightly after last week’s roughly 1.5% decline, as investors digested fresh corporate news ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank climbed over 1% as it continued restructuring its retail banking business, announcing that around 100 additional branches will close by the end of 2026 under existing programs. SAP fell 0.9% ahead of its fourth-quarter results due Thursday. While the Fed is widely expected to keep rates unchanged, markets are focused on its guidance for clues on the timing of the next rate cut, with speculation rising that a more dovish successor to Fed Chair Jerome Powell could be named this week.
FTSE 100 Trades Cautiously on Monday
The FTSE 100 traded around the flatline on Monday as gains in miners were offset by losses in defence and consumer stocks. Precious metals miners led the index as gold and silver rallied to fresh highs, with Fresnillo rising more than 4% and Endeavour up over 2.5%, while broader miners also advanced, including Antofagasta up more than 3%, Anglo American up 1.5% and Rio Tinto up 0.8%. By contrast, defence names weakened, with BAE Systems down around 0.5% and Rolls Royce lower by about 1%, while Reckitt Benckiser fell more than 3%, weighing on overall performance. Market sentiment remained cautious as geopolitics stayed in focus, with renewed tensions between the United States and Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney ruled out a free trade agreement with China following threats from President Donald Trump to impose steep tariffs on Ottawa if such a deal were pursued.
