FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Supported by vague hopes of progress in the Middle East conflict, the German stock market kicked off the new trading week with gains. The Dax rose 1.18 percent on Monday to 22,562.88 points. The MDax, which tracks mid-cap stocks, closed up 0.52 percent at 27,800.49 points.
US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the United States was engaged in "serious talks with a new and more sensible government" in Iran to end the military operation. He stated that "great progress has been made." However, he threatened Iran with massive strikes and the destruction of the country's energy infrastructure should no agreement be reached to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, no easing of tensions is in sight on the currently pivotal oil market. A barrel of North Sea Brent for June delivery rose above 107 dollars. Oil prices remain the primary barometer for investors' economic and inflationary concerns.
The latter are unlikely to subside given the latest price data from Germany: driven by the conflict with Iran and the oil price shock, consumer prices rose by 2.7 percent in March, reaching their highest level in more than two years. In February, the inflation rate stood at 1.9 percent.
Other major European exchanges also trended higher on Monday. The Eurozone's benchmark EuroStoxx 50 index gained 0.65 percent to 5,541.79 points. Outside the eurozone, Zurich's SMI rose by 0.8 percent, while London's FTSE posted even stronger gains. In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial was up 0.8 percent at the time of the European market close.
Shares in Suss Microtec initially plummeted by more than 18 percent, though they pared losses to end the session down 6.3 percent. Analyst Janardan Menon of US bank Jefferies described it as a transition year characterized by declining revenues and higher costs.
RTL shares climbed 2.7 percent. Market attention focused on a Reuters report suggesting the media group is prepared to make concessions regarding its planned acquisition of Sky Deutschland. RTL aims to bolster its streaming business under the "RTL+" brand and consolidate Sky's streaming activities alongside its TV channels. The European Commission is currently reviewing the merger.
The recent sharp recovery in sugar prices triggered a rally of nearly 16 percent in Südzucker shares, sending them to their highest level since September 2024. The surge was further supported by a new "buy" recommendation from MWB Research.
Market disappointment over Wüstenrot & Württembergische's profit targets, which emerged on Friday, continued into Monday with a share price decline of nearly 6 percent. The stock briefly touched its lowest level since September 2025./bek/he
--- By Benjamin Krieger, dpa-AFX ---
