DAX in "Vacuum Mode": Presidents' Day Sidelines US Impulses
The German blue-chip index starts this trading week in an unusual fashion. While business on the Frankfurt floor continues as usual, investors will have to do without their typical overseas compass this afternoon. In the United States, stock exchanges remain closed in observance of Presidents' Day. For the DAX, this means no impulses from Wall Street, no fresh US capital in the afternoon, and a trading environment primarily driven by technical factors.
For experienced market participants, this is a double-edged sword. Without the often volatile US "capers," one might hope for a stable sideways trend. However, caution is advised: the lack of volume makes the index more susceptible to erratic price movements. In a "thin" market, even smaller orders can cause disproportionately large swings, making the DAX more unpredictable on Monday than on regular trading days.
Focus on Europe: Industrial Production and Finance Ministers' Summit
With the absence of US leads, European themes naturally take center stage. At 11:00 AM CET, data on European Industrial Production for the end of 2025 will be released. Although these are lagging indicators, they provide essential insights into the current resilience of the Eurozone's industrial core.
Meanwhile, the Eurozone Finance Ministers are meeting in Brussels. On the agenda: fiscal discipline and the general economic situation. A particularly interesting detail: for the first time, a Canadian representative—Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne—is participating in the meeting to discuss global imbalances and geoeconomic risks. These political signals could provide direction for the Euro and, indirectly, the DAX.
Sartorius in the Spotlight: Outlook is Everything
Regarding individual stocks, eyes are already turning to Tuesday, when the life sciences group Sartorius will present its full annual report for 2025. While the preliminary figures (showing a revenue increase of approx. 7.6%) are already known, the market is hungry for details regarding the 2026 outlook. In particular, margin development and the recovery in the lab division will be under the analysts' microscope and could move the stock—and the broader sector.
Technical Summary: The 25,000 Psychological Bastion
From a technical perspective, the setup remains gripping. The DAX continues to trade just below the 25,000-point mark, which it managed to breach twice last week but failed to defend sustainably. Nevertheless, the relative strength maintained at this high level suggests that the bulls haven't given up yet. If technical trading proceeds today without interference, there is a very real chance that market participants will use the "US vacuum" to lift the index above the 25,000 hurdle to set a positive tone for the rest of the week.
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