Blue-chip DAX Index Climbs; German Consumer Sentiment Expected to Worsen

11:48 AM EDT, 09/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Germany's blue-chip DAX index ended Friday's trading 0.51% in the green, as investors digested downbeat domestic consumer sentiment data alongside updates on a potential US-Iran peace deal. German consumer sentiment is anticipated to deteriorate in October, with the GfK consumer climate indicator falling to -30.6 points from the revised -26.8 points in September. The reading missed the market forecast of -27.1 points. "All in all, this morning's disappointing consumer confidence puts the latest improvements in other leading indicators, like the Ifo index and PMIs, into perspective. If anything, the current cyclical rebound has clearly not reached consumers, and with high energy prices, labour market uncertainty and higher interest rates, it is doubtful that it actually will," ING said in a quick take report. Concurrently, the German export outlook worsened, with the ifo Institute's export expectations indicator declining to 8 points in September from the previous month's 9.8 points. The ifo reported that anticipated export gains across the wider industry were dampened by a slump in expectations in the automotive sector. On the geopolitical front, Reuters reported, citing sources close to the talks, that US and Iranian negotiators in New York are discussing a phased de-escalation plan to end the conflict. A senior Iranian official told the news outlet that the most viable deal involves Tehran allowing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington lifting its economic blockade and unfreezing Iran's assets. In corporate news, HelloFresh (HFG.F) tumbled 10.77% on Xetra after the German meal kit company issued its second profit warning for 2026, with third-quarter revenue now projected to decline 11% to 12% at constant currency and full-year 2026 revenue guidance expected to drop between 9% and 11%. "HelloFresh's back-to-school period failed to deliver the new-customer volumes needed to support its prior outlook, prompting another sharp reset," analysts at mwb Research said. "In our view, the warning exposes a structural trade-off: protecting marketing ROI implies continued volume losses, while spending more to stabilize acquisition risks diluting efficiency gains. We no longer assume a return to organic growth in our base case and model a gradually declining revenue base. New PT EUR 1.80 (old EUR 2.90); Down to SELL from HOLD."