A deluge of corporate earnings is driving Dax investors mid-week, overshadowing persistent inflation concerns. The German benchmark index rose 0.7 percent at Wednesday's open to reach 24,130 points. The flurry of results is fostering optimism among investors, notes Andreas Lipkow, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets. 'At least in the short term, it provides a welcome distraction for investors from the protracted and remains opaque conflict in the Middle East.' Doubts over a swift peace in the Middle East and a surprisingly sharp rise in US inflation had dampened sentiment the previous day, dragging the Dax down 1.6 percent below the 24,000-point threshold.

The biggest gainer on the Dax is Merck, with its share price jumping by up to 9.4 percent. The Darmstadt-based pharmaceutical and technology group won over investors with strong first-quarter results and an upward revision of its full-year guidance. E.ON is also attracting buyers, with shares in the energy group climbing over four percent. 'E.ON's figures for the first quarter of 2026 exceeded expectations, supported by sustained investment-driven growth in the energy networks division and a solid balance sheet,' commented one trader.

(Report by Stefanie Geiger, edited by Myria Mildenberger. For inquiries, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets)