The Dax is set to open lower on Friday, according to indications from the futures markets. On Thursday, the German benchmark index closed one percent lower at 24,663.61 points. Profit-taking following the recent rally also weighed on Wall Street. Sentiment across major exchanges was dampened by growing doubts over whether the long-awaited peace agreement in the Middle East, highly anticipated by investors, will indeed be announced soon.

The regional situation has recently intensified following new military confrontations between the US and Iran. Prices for North Sea Brent and US WTI crude rose by more than one percent each, reaching 101.30 and 95.82 dollars per barrel, respectively. Despite the exchange of strikes, US President Donald Trump attempted to dispel fears regarding an end to the ceasefire. The truce remains in effect, Trump told ABC News on Thursday (local time).

As the week draws to a close, the focus shifts to the US labor market report for April. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect non-farm payrolls to have increased by only 62,000. In March, job growth stood at 178,000. Investors are also awaiting German industrial and foreign trade data for March.

On the corporate front, Commerzbank CEO Bettina Orlopp is set to present her refined strategy to boost the bank's profitability over the coming years. This is expected to include further job cuts. The bank aims to demonstrate its ability to succeed independently in the long term, without a takeover by its major Italian shareholder, UniCredit.

Closing levels of European Level  

Equity Indices and

Futures on Thursday

Dax 24,663.61    

EuroStoxx50 5,972.65    

EuroStoxx50 Future 5,948.00    

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Closing levels of Level Change in

US Indices on Thursday Percent

Dow Jones 49,596.97   -0.6%  

Nasdaq 

S&P 500  7,337.11   -0.4%  

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Asian Indices on Price at 07:00 Change in

Friday CET Percent

Nikkei  62,471.41   -0.6%  

Shanghai 4,162.27   -0.4%  

Hang Seng 26,353.83   -1.0%  

(Report by Sanne Schimanski, Daniela Pegna, edited by Elke Ahlswede. For inquiries, please contact our editorial team at berlin.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for politics and economics) or frankfurt.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (for companies and markets).)