DE40: European equities edge higher as key sectors recover (19.09.2025)

European equities edged higher on Friday, with the EU50 up 0.5% as most sectors gained ground. Major indexes including DE40 (+0,6%), SPA35 (+0,7%), FRA40 (+0.4%), SUI40 (+0.4%) posted notable gains, while ITA40 lagged (-0.05%). 

Investor sentiment was shaped by trade dynamics, with attention on a scheduled call between the U.S. President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping following progress on TikTok negotiations in Madrid. Trade concerns also weighed on logistics names, with Maersk and Kuehne + Nagel sharply lower.

Traders also digested a heavy macro agenda, including German PPI, U.K. retail sales, and French business confidence. U.K. borrowing data surprised to the upside, pushing gilt yields higher, while Asian markets rose on unchanged BOJ policy and U.S. futures steadied after record Wall Street closes.

Volatility in the DAX index sectors. Source: Bloomberg Finance LP

DE40 (H4)

DAX futures opened slightly lower after the rollover, but buyers stepped in as European trading got underway. The rally stalled just shy of the psychological 24,000 mark, trimming some gains. If post-U.S. rate cut optimism holds and prices close above the 100-period EMA, DAX could break back above 24,000 for the first time this month. However, fading momentum — with the RSI nearing overbought territory — may instead reinforce the prevailing downtrend.

Source: xStation5

Company news:

• Fresenius Medical Care has invested €312 million to complete the purchase of all non-physician investor shares in Interwell Health, accelerating plans set during the 2022 merger with Cricket Health and Fresenius Health Partners. Effective Oct. 1, Tommy P. O’Connor becomes CEO of Interwell Health and head of its Value-Based Care segment. The stock is down 0.4%.

• IG Group has agreed to buy Australian crypto exchange Independent Reserve for A$178 million ($117 million), strengthening its digital assets offering and footprint in Asia-Pacific. The deal is expected to boost cash EPS in the first full year post-closing. The stock is down 2%.

• Sartorius has expanded its Illkirch site near Strasbourg with a new GMP facility for pharmaceutical-grade transfection reagents, vital for viral vector manufacturing in cell and gene therapies. The site now spans over 8,000 sqm of production, lab, and office space. The investment strengthens Sartorius Stedim Biotech’s global network, following recent upgrades in Aubagne, to support growth in the fast-expanding biopharma sector.

• Scout24 will acquire Spanish property platforms Fotocasa and Habitaclia from EQT for about €153 million. The sites attract over 8 million monthly users, host around 1 million listings, and serve 14,000 agents. They are expected to generate ~€60 million revenue and ~€11 million EBITDA in 2025. The deal, funded with cash and credit lines, is set to close within six months pending EQT’s Adevinta Spain acquisition. The stock is down 5%.

• Stroeer cut its 2025 outlook, now expecting revenue and adjusted EBITDA to be in line with 2024 levels (€2.05 billion and €626 million, respectively), citing geopolitical and macroeconomic headwinds in advertising. The group still expects to grow market share in Germany’s ad market despite softer growth prospects.