The Dax is expected to open higher on Thursday, according to calculations by banks and brokerage houses. Despite growing hopes for further negotiations in the Iran conflict, investors remained cautious on Wednesday. The Dax closed virtually unchanged at 24,066 points. On Wall Street, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 posted record closes, rising 1.6% and 0.8% respectively, while the Dow Jones remained largely flat.

The conflict in the Middle East remains the primary focus. According to insiders, Iran is considering a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with the U.S. This marks the first time the Islamic Republic has moved away from its maximalist demands. Previously, the government in Tehran sought to impose transit fees for the international waterway and claim sovereignty over the strait. A two-week ceasefire has been in effect since April 8. The war has caused the largest disruption to global oil and natural gas supplies to date. Iran has been blocking traffic through the strait, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. On Monday, the U.S. also imposed a blockade on oil tankers leaving Iranian ports.

Thursday's economic agenda includes final March inflation data for the Eurozone, as well as U.S. initial jobless claims and industrial production data.

Closing prices of European Level  

Equity Indices and

Futures on Wednesday

Dax 24,066.70    

EuroStoxx50 5,940.34    

EuroStoxx50-Future 5,887.00    

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Closing prices of Level Change in

U.S. Indices on Wednesday Percent

Dow Jones 48,463.72   -0.1%  

Nasdaq 

S&P 500  7,022.95   +0.8%  

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Asian Indices on Level at 07:00 Change in

Thursday CET Percent

Nikkei  59,402.56   +2.2%  

Shanghai 4,048.64   +0.5%  

Hang Seng 26,306.55   +1.4%  

(Report by Anika Ross, Daniela Pegna, 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).)