FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Optimistic growth forecasts from Taiwanese chip giant TSMC gave a strong boost to shares of German suppliers to the chip industry on Thursday. Otherwise, there was little movement on the German stock market. The long-sluggish DAX only managed to edge up late in the session, closing with a gain of 0.26 percent at 25,352.39 points. This keeps it within striking distance of its recent record high just above 25,500 points.

Neither the quarterly reports from major US investment banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley nor solid economic data from the US left any mark on the German market.

The DAX pullback on Wednesday made it clear, "that the air gets thinner beyond the 25,500-point mark," summarized analyst Frank Sohlleder from broker Activtrades. After an impressive streak of eight consecutive winning sessions, "gravity" had recently returned to the market.

The MDAX, the index for mid-cap stocks, closed Thursday up 0.53 percent at 31,943.60 points. On Tuesday, it had reached its highest level in nearly four years.

Euphoria for suppliers to semiconductor manufacturers was triggered by the growth outlook from Taiwan's TSMC. The world's largest chipmaker plans to significantly ramp up investments over the next three years to meet booming demand for semiconductors, especially components for applications related to Artificial Intelligence (AI).

As a result, German supplier stocks were in demand. Aixtron rose 5.7 percent, while Suss Microtec soared by 10.7 percent. Shares of plasma technology specialist PVA Tepla gained 8.4 percent, and Siltronic climbed 3.1 percent. Siltronic produces so-called wafers, essentially the raw material for computer chips.

At the top of the DAX, RWE advanced 2.8 percent, closing above the 50-euro mark for the first time since 2011. Both UBS and Bank of America recommended buying the shares.

Adidas gained 1.4 percent after a setback at the start of the year. A positive comment from Spanish bank Santander, with an "Outperform" recommendation, provided a boost.

The biggest loser in the DAX was Fresenius, down 4.5 percent. The healthcare group’s shares had climbed to their highest level since 2019 the previous day.

Among smaller stocks in the SDAX, Draegerwerk jumped 9.3 percent. The key figures for 2025 from the medical and safety technology manufacturer and its forecasts for 2026 were well received by investors.

Europe’s stock markets showed resilience on Thursday. The EuroStoxx 50 rose 0.60 percent to 6,041.14 points. The British FTSE 100 gained similarly, while Switzerland’s SMI lagged somewhat with a moderate increase. In New York, the Dow Jones Industrial was up nearly one percent at the close of European trading./bek/jha/

--- By Benjamin Krieger, dpa-AFX ---