FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Renewed geopolitical tensions surrounding Iran are weighing on equity markets this Friday. In early trading, the Dax fell by 0.92 percent to 24,436 points, moving further away from the psychological 25,000-point threshold, which it had briefly surpassed mid-week for the first time since the outbreak of the Iran war.
The MDax, which tracks mid-cap stocks, slipped 0.51 percent to 31,400 points on Friday. Meanwhile, the Eurozone's benchmark EuroStoxx 50 index lost 1 percent.
The ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is currently being tested: following Iranian attacks on three U.S. destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. military has struck targets within the Islamic Republic in retaliation. Following the strikes, U.S. President Donald Trump once again issued threats, calling on Iran to 'quickly' sign a peace agreement. However, he noted that the month-long ceasefire remains in effect. Oil prices rose on the news.
Analyst Jochen Stanzl of broker CMC Markets sees growing risks for a market that has recently been driven by AI and has become increasingly complacent, should the Iran conflict remain unresolved./ajx/mis
