FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The German stock market started the new trading week without a clear direction. The DAX, which had been firmer in the morning, steadily declined in late trading on Monday and closed near its daily low, up 0.13 percent at 22,271.67 points. The MDAX, which tracks medium-sized companies, rose 0.05 percent to 28,308.01 points.
Among individual stocks, Airbus shares led the DAX with a gain of 2.6 percent. The world's largest aircraft manufacturer has now finally agreed to acquire some of Spirit Aerosystems' assets. Airbus will receive US$439 million for the purchase of the loss-making facilities, which produce parts for the European aircraft manufacturer.
Traton was the top performer in the MDax with a 7.4 percent gain. The truck holding company within the Volkswagen Group had presented its final quarterly figures in the morning. Analysts particularly praised the order situation and the confirmed outlook.
BASF gained 1.3 percent. The price gains were driven by a report in the Dutch financial newspaper "Het Financieele Dagblad" that Akzo Nobel was "seriously interested" in BASF Coatings, the surface solutions business. /edh/he
