Blue-chip DAX Index Up as German Business Climate Rises

12:51 PM EDT, 10/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The blue-chip DAX index started the trading week in the green, closing 1.03% higher on Monday, on the back of improving German business sentiment ahead of key economic and policy announcements. The ifo Institute's business climate indicator stood at 90.2 points in October, up from September's 89.9 points and the expected 90 points. The expectations indicator rose to 91.6 points from 90.4 points, while the current conditions index ticked down to 88.8 points from 89.5 points. "Looking ahead, today's Ifo index suggests that for the German economic outlook, all hopes are still pinned on ongoing fiscal stimulus to increasingly feed through to the entire economy. This hope could prove a reality, even if the government is struggling to meet its spending and investment targets," ING said in a quick take note. "Despite this hope, however, clear risks remain: war in the Middle East and the potential for further escalation after the US mid-term elections, with oil prices remaining at elevated levels (or worse), as well as the likely incoming shock of higher gas prices in the current heating season." Oil prices eased on Monday morning as Reuters reported that senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, bound by a mutual defense pact signed in August, are set to hold high-level talks with Iranian leaders in Tehran to discuss regional security amid escalating tensions. Meanwhile, the news outlet noted that Qatar and Pakistan are engaged in separate mediation efforts, having met with Iranian leadership in Tehran on Sunday to encourage de-escalation. Against this backdrop, investors await monetary policy decisions this week from the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan. Domestically, GfK consumer confidence results for November are expected on Wednesday, while Germany's third-quarter gross domestic product data and October inflation prints are scheduled to be released on Friday. In corporate news, Bayer (BAYN.F) climbed to one of the top spots of the blue-chip DAX, rising 3.48%, after positive phase 3 trial results showed that darolutamide, or Nubeqa, jointly developed by the German life science company and Orion, reduced the risk of metastasis or death by 58% in prostate cancer patients. Concurrently, Bayer also secured marketing approval in China for its stroke prevention drug asundexian. "Overall, we think data were highly positive and support a large expansion opportunity for Nubeqa in earlier-line prostate cancer, which likely offers upside to cons cEur5.5bn peak sales," BofA Global Research said. Meanwhile, OHB (OHB.F) agreed to acquire a 25% stake in specialized communications provider MediaMobil via a capital increase to expand its satellite connectivity and emergency communications capabilities. The partners aim to leverage MediaMobil's technology, which ensures reliable communication in demanding environments such as disaster zones and offshore locations. The German space technology group jumped 9.18% on Xetra.