Vodafone Group Plc reported first‑quarter service revenue growth that exceeded analysts’ expectations, thanks to increased sales in Germany, its biggest market.
The German space startup Exploration Company Gmbh is seeking a minimum of $300 million in new capital, with funding expected to come in part from the EU’s Scaleup Europe Fund, pushing its valuation above $2 billion.
The German DAX index rose, with SAP shares at the forefront, as market participants paid attention to trade policy, macroeconomic data and developments in the Middle East.
SoftBank Group is weighing a possible purchase of German robotics startup Gravis Robotics AG, aiming to strengthen its portfolio with AI‑powered robotics solutions.
Allianz will purchase HSBC Life, the Singapore arm of HSBC’s insurance operations, for $2.09 billion. The deal follows a failed attempt at acquiring Income Insurance in Singapore at the end of 2024 due to political resistance, and it aims to strengthen Allianz’s presence in the Asian insurance sector.
In a market update, the German DAX index slipped into negative territory, but Daimler Truck shares surged. The ECB announced it will hold rates steady, and high energy prices continue to dominate market discussions.
The Italian banking group UniCredit said it expects to secure approval for its takeover of Germany’s Commerzbank within the current year. The bank believes the transaction will have a smaller impact on its balance sheet than previously thought and has consequently increased its earnings target.
Rising energy prices are threatening to lift inflation again. The ECB is not expected to act before Thursday, but experts say a policy response could come in the autumn.
German authorities conducted a raid on Deutsche Bank’s headquarters as part of a tax‑evasion probe concerning cum‑cum deals at its Postbank unit. The investigation also implicates senior managers, with the suspected loss estimated in the three‑digit million‑euro range.
The DAX index stayed in positive territory while Brent oil jumped over four percent amid new tensions in the Iran conflict, and Airbus shares surged more than six percent.