FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The attempt at a recovery on the German stock market fizzled out again on Wednesday. After initial gains, the leading index Dax turned negative in the late afternoon. The uncertainty surrounding the upcoming quarterly reports in the USA and the approaching election to the French National Assembly deterred investors from buying shares. The French stock market index Cac 40 fell more sharply than the Dax. The euro also came under renewed pressure.

The Dax closed 0.12 percent lower at 18,155.24 points. In the meantime, it only just avoided falling below the 18,000-point mark. The MDax of medium-sized companies lost 0.52 percent and closed at 25,335.92 points.

As on the previous day, Airbus was the biggest loser in the Dax, falling by 2.8 percent. The aircraft manufacturer had informed airlines that the delivery of ordered aircraft could be delayed over the next two years, the Bloomberg news agency reported, citing people involved in the matter. According to observers, this could be an indication that problems with the supply chains will continue well beyond the current year.

Volkswagen lost 1.6 percent and car shares were generally weak. The Wolfsburg-based company plans to invest up to 5 billion US dollars in the US electric car manufacturer Rivian in the coming years. Analysts praised the move, but criticized the lack of details.

Shares in SAP and Deutsche Borse reached record highs. SAP gained 2.4 percent in the end, while Deutsche Borse subsequently turned negative and lost 0.3 percent in the end. The investment bank Jefferies had issued a positive report on SAP shares.

Among the second-line stocks, Delivery Hero fell by 6.6 percent and Hellofresh by 7.9 percent. The investment bank JPMorgan had commented negatively on the food delivery sector.

The leading eurozone index, the EuroStoxx 50, lost almost half a percent. Share prices also fell in Paris and London. New York's leading index, the Dow Jones Industrial, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq 100 were moderately down at the close of the European session.

The euro continued to fall and last traded at 1.0680 US dollars. The European Central Bank had previously set the reference rate at 1.0689 (Tuesday: 1.0714) dollars.

On the bond market, the current yield rose from 2.47 percent the previous day to 2.48 percent. The Rex bond index fell by 0.07 percent to 124.88 points. The Bund future lost 0.39 percent to 132.05 points in the evening./bek/he

--- By Benjamin Krieger, dpa-AFX ---