DE40: Positive sentiment returns following news of upcoming U.S.-China trade talks

• Siemens Healthineers AG widened its adjusted earnings per share forecast for the full year to €2.20 to €2.50, down from the previous guidance of €2.35 to €2.50
• BMW AG shares rose as much as 3.7% after the German automaker posted better-than-expected first-quarter results despite challenges in China
• Fresenius SE shares slipped as much as 1.7% despite reporting solid first-quarter results in line with expectations

European markets are showing mostly positive performance today. Austria's AUT20 is leading the gains, up 0.88% to 4108. Italy's ITA40 has risen 0.48% to 38071, while the Netherlands' NED25 increased 0.43% to 892.40.

Germany's DE40 gained 0.33% to 23389.3, and the pan-European EU50 index climbed 0.29% to 5225.6. Switzerland's SUI20 rose 0.15% to 12127, and Spain's SPA35 edged up 0.01% to 13479.

The UK's UK100 remained flat at 8561.0, while France's FRA40 declined slightly by 0.32% to 7633.2. The volatility index VSTOXX fell 1.64% to 21.03, suggesting decreased market uncertainty.

The strongest performer is Poland's W20, surging 1.25% to 2746.6, reversing its previous decline.

Dax Returns by Sector. Source: Bloomberg Financial LP

Volatility is currently observed in the broader European market. Source: xStation

The German DE40 Index is maintaining its bullish momentum retracing after a retest of highs and trading above the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level and the 50-day SMA. Bulls will aim to hold above the 23.6% level, while bears will attempt to push the price below it, targeting the 50-day SMA. The RSI continues to show bullish divergence with higher lows, while the MACD is widening following a bullish crossover.Source: xStation

Market News

• Siemens Healthineers AG widened its adjusted earnings per share forecast for the full year to €2.20 to €2.50, down from the previous guidance of €2.35 to €2.50, while maintaining its comparable sales growth outlook of 5% to 6%. The company reported strong second-quarter results with revenue increasing 8.7% year-over-year to €5.91 billion, exceeding analysts' expectations of €5.76 billion. Comparable sales growth reached 6.8%, outpacing the estimated 4.86%. The Imaging segment performed particularly well with sales of €3.28 billion (+11% y/y) and adjusted EBIT of €736 million (+23% y/y). Varian sales grew 14% to €1.04 billion, though its adjusted EBIT declined 7.4% to €138 million. The company's overall adjusted EBIT margin improved to 16.6% from 15.1% in the same quarter last year. Management noted that trade barriers and tariffs would have "slightly negative impacts" on growth dynamics and reduce adjusted EBIT margins across all segments in the second half of the fiscal year, citing "increased uncertainty" as the reason for expanding the lower end of their earnings guidance range.
• BMW AG shares rose as much as 3.7% after the German automaker posted better-than-expected first-quarter results despite challenges in China. The company reported EBIT of €3.14 billion, down 22% year-over-year but above the estimated €2.82 billion, while sales declined 7.8% to €33.76 billion. BMW's automotive EBIT margin was 6.9%, down from 8.8% in the previous year but exceeding analysts' expectations of 6.52%. Vehicle deliveries decreased slightly by 1.4% to 586,117 units. The company maintained its full-year guidance including an automotive EBIT margin of 5% to 7% and group earnings before tax expected to match the previous year's level. BMW noted that its March guidance already incorporated tariff increases effective by March 12, adding that some tariff increases are expected to be temporary with potential reductions from July 2025, and that the company has implemented mitigating measures to offset higher tariffs.
• Fresenius SE shares slipped as much as 1.7% despite reporting solid first-quarter results in line with expectations. The company posted EBIT before special items of €654 million, meeting analyst estimates, with strong performances from both Kabi (€360 million EBIT) and Helios (€333 million EBIT) segments. Fresenius maintained its full-year guidance of 4% to 6% organic revenue growth and 3% to 7% EBIT growth. The company expects Fresenius Kabi to achieve mid- to high-single-digit organic revenue growth with an EBIT margin of 16.0% to 16.5%, while Fresenius Helios is forecast to deliver mid-single-digit organic revenue growth with an EBIT margin around 10%. Analysts were positive on the performance, particularly noting the strong operational results across both main segments and the biosimilars business posting another strong quarter, with Deutsche Bank highlighting that Fresenius "continues to build on its track record of quarterly earnings beats."

Other news coming from individual DAX index companies. Source: Bloomberg Financial LP