German DAX drops nearly 1% in the last session of the week, DE40 futures down 0.25%
- German automotive stocks under pressure amid fears of 25% U.S. tariffs; BMW and Porsche AG down 2.5%.
- Mercedes-Benz to lay off 15% of its workforce in China.
- Aixtron shares slump over 10% after earnings and forecasts fail to meet market expectations.
- Onshore wind turbine supplier Nordex declines over 1%, as its guidance falls within the mid-range of expectations.
European stock market sentiment remains subdued today, with DAX facing strong resistance. Currently, DE40 futures are testing the lower boundary of the upward channel observed since January 2025. Bulls are struggling to hold above the 200-hour EMA (around 22,600 points).
Source: xStation5
German car manufacturers, Zalando and Symrise are the weakest stocks in DAX today, while Rheinmetall and Beiersdorf rise. Outside the DAX, defense supplier Hensoldt and Thyssenkrupp are seeing gains. Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.
The European stock market is seeing declines in the automotive sector, while Rolls-Royce surges nearly 17%, benefiting from strong defense orders. Source: xStation5
Aixtron Faces Worst Session Since February 2024, Testing Multi-Year Lows
Semiconductor solutions provider Aixtron forecasts 2025 revenue between €530 million and €600 million, likely falling below the 2024 level of €633.2 million.
2025 Earnings and Forecasts:
- Expected revenue: €530M – €600M (Bloomberg estimate: €574.9M, LSEG: €582M)
- EBIT: €131.2M (Estimate: €137.4M) vs. €156.8M in the previous year
- Earnings per share: €0.94 (Estimate: €1.04)
- Gross margin: 41% (Estimate: 42.7%)
In Q1 2025, the company expects sales between €90M – €110M, compared to €118.3M in Q1 2024. The gross margin and EBIT forecast include costs related to a voluntary workforce reduction program, totaling several million euros (mid-single-digit range). This measure is expected to yield annual savings of several million euros, improving the gross margin and EBIT by about 1 percentage point.
Aixtron cited challenging market conditions, reporting a 16% drop in operating profit, putting its stock on track for its worst day in a year. The semiconductor sector remains under pressure, as rising demand from AI fails to offset weaker demand for automotive, PC, and memory chips.
Aixtron (AIXA.DE) Chart
Aixtron shares are now trading nearly 40% below the 200-day EMA, testing levels last seen in 2020.
Source: xStation5
Arista Networks Q3 Preview — What can we expect?
US OPEN: Downward Pressure on U.S. Markets Amid Government Shutdown
AMD Q3 Preview — What can we expect?
DE40: European indices in the shadow of risk-off sentiment
The content of this report has been created by XTB S.A., with its registered office in Warsaw, at Prosta 67, 00-838 Warsaw, Poland, (KRS number 0000217580) and supervised by Polish Supervision Authority ( No. DDM-M-4021-57-1/2005). This material is a marketing communication within the meaning of Art. 24 (3) of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (MiFID II). Marketing communication is not an investment recommendation or information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market abuse regulation) and repealing Directive 2003/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Directives 2003/124/EC, 2003/125/EC and 2004/72/EC and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/958 of 9 March 2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards for the technical arrangements for objective presentation of investment recommendations or other information recommending or suggesting an investment strategy and for disclosure of particular interests or indications of conflicts of interest or any other advice, including in the area of investment advisory, within the meaning of the Trading in Financial Instruments Act of 29 July 2005 (i.e. Journal of Laws 2019, item 875, as amended). The marketing communication is prepared with the highest diligence, objectivity, presents the facts known to the author on the date of preparation and is devoid of any evaluation elements. The marketing communication is prepared without considering the client’s needs, his individual financial situation and does not present any investment strategy in any way. The marketing communication does not constitute an offer of sale, offering, subscription, invitation to purchase, advertisement or promotion of any financial instruments. XTB S.A. is not liable for any client’s actions or omissions, in particular for the acquisition or disposal of financial instruments, undertaken on the basis of the information contained in this marketing communication. In the event that the marketing communication contains any information about any results regarding the financial instruments indicated therein, these do not constitute any guarantee or forecast regarding the future results.
