DE30: Stocks gain ahead of ECB decision

• European markets trade higher

• DE30 erases more than half of recent drop

• ECB decision due at 12:45 pm BST

European stock markets continue recovery on Thursday, benefitting from upbeat moods seen on Wall Street yesterday and in Asia today. German DAX (DE30) is one of the best performing major indices from the Old Continent, gaining 0.8% at press time. UK FTSE 100 (UK100) and Polish WIG20 (W20) can be seen as laggards as they gain "only" 0.2-0.3%. ECB decision at 12:45 pm BST is a key event of the day and will be watched closely after the Bank suggested that changes may be made to forward guidance.

DE30 continues to rapidly recover from a recent sell-off. Index managed to break above the price zone ranging above 15,425 pts yesterday and has erased half of a recent drop. DE30 approaches another important mid-term resistance - area marked with the 23.6% retracement of an upward impulse launched in mid-May 2021. Traders should be aware of potentially higher volatility around the ECB policy announcement at 12:45 pm BST as well as during Lagarde's presser (1:30 pm BST). Source: xStation5

Amadeus Fire (AAD.DE) is rallying over 7% today. Company published an earnings report for the first half of 2021. Company generated €178.4 million in sales during the period, up 29.8% from 2020 levels. Operating EBITDA reached €29.5 million and was almost 70% higher than in H1 2020. EBITDA was also 68% higher than in pre-pandemic H1 2019. Net income increased 122% YoY to €15.5 million. Earnings per share increased from €1.33 in H1 2020 to €2.68 in H1 2021. Company said that positive results were achieved across all business units. Amadeus Fire boosted the full-year forecast and now expects EBITDA to increase by at least 50% in 2021.

BASF (BAS.DE) announced yesterday that it has entered a partnership with Cellforce Group, a joint venture of Porsche and Customcells. Goal of the partnership is to develop high-performance batteries for electric vehicles. BASF will provide materials while Cellforce will produce batteries.

South Korean authorities agreed to Delivery Hero's (DHER.DE) request for extension of period for divestment of its South Korean unit, Yogiyo. The South Korean Fair Trade Commission extended the period until January 2, 2022. Initial deadline was set to run out on August 2, 2021.

Amadeus Fire (AAD.DE) rallied following the release of the first half earnings report. Stock opened with a big bullish price gap and continued to gain. As a result, share price managed to break above a recent double top and fully erased the 2020 pandemic drop. Stock is trading at a fresh record high. The nearest resistance to watch is marked with the 127.2% exterior retracement of pandemic drop (€188.50). Source: xStation5