German DAX Index Down as Eurozone Inflation Holds Steady

11:53 AM EST, 12/17/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Germany's blue-chip DAX index was in the red at the end of Wednesday's trading session, closing 0.47% lower, following the release of the euro area's final inflation print for November. According to Eurostat, the eurozone's annual inflation rate stood at 2.1% in November, unchanged from the previous month and below the flash estimate of 2.2%. The annual core rate, which excludes energy, food, alcohol and tobacco, remained at 2.4%. The inflation data was published ahead of the European Central Bank's rate decision on Thursday, where it is widely expected to keep its monetary policy unchanged. Back at home, the ifo Institute reported that German business sentiment weakened further, ticking down 87.6 points in December from the revised 88 points in November and missing the market forecast of 88.2 points. The expectations indicator came in at 89.7 points, compared with the previous and expected 90.5 points. On the other hand, the current conditions index was stable at 85.6 points, against the consensus estimate of 85.7 points. "With the Ifo index dropping to the lowest level since May, the German economy remains stuck in stagnation at the end of another disappointing year. Yet, despite the gloom, signs of a cyclical rebound are beginning to emerge," ING wrote. On the corporate front, RBC Capital Markets initiated its coverage of Siemens Healthineers (SHL.F), with an outperform rating and price target of 55 euros. "Trading close to all-time low multiples since the IPO, we believe the valuation is not reflective of the company's medium-term mid-to-high [single digit] sales and [double digit] underlying earnings growth potential, nor its no. 1 positioning and track record of outperformance in core markets. We see potential for further re-rating in the event of a Diagnostics sale and benefits from greater liquidity post the Siemens (SIE.F) sell-down, with further clarity on timelines due in CY Q2 2026," RBC said. The German healthcare company was up 0.97%, while technology conglomerate Siemens lost 2.04%. Bloomberg News cited a statement from KNDS Chairman Tom Enders, saying that the French-German tankmaker is "ready" for a dual-listing in Frankfurt and Paris by 2026. The planned initial public offering remains subject to market conditions, with the news outlet reporting earlier that KNDS is aiming for a 20 billion-euro valuation. The European defense company did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for a comment.