FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The Dax is expected to open with slight gains on Friday, supported by a minor retreat in oil prices. Around two and a half hours before the Xetra session, broker IG saw the German benchmark index up 0.7 percent at 22,777 points. Brent North Sea crude is trading slightly lower than the previous day, though at 107 dollars, it remains well above the 100-dollar-per-barrel threshold.
The week for the Dax has been defined by Monday's massive trading range. Amid a backdrop of conflicting news, the index fluctuated by a spectacular 1,300 points during that session. It initially hit a wartime low of 21,863 points before staging a sharp recovery to 23,178 points. Oil prices, currently the primary barometer for market concerns regarding inflation and economic growth, have also remained within Monday's range throughout the week.
US President Trump has once again extended his ultimatum to Iran regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait - one of the world's most critical transit routes for energy supplies - has been effectively closed by Iran. Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that he will refrain from strikes on Iranian power plants until April 6 at 8:00 PM (US Eastern Time, April 7 at 2:00 AM German time), citing "very good" discussions.
The news flow remains contradictory. While Iran has repeatedly denied the existence of the talks mentioned by Trump, Pakistan has confirmed its role as a mediator./ag/zb
