Overview
- The German benchmark rose above 25,000 points in early trade, extending a new‑year advance that follows a strong 2025 performance.
- Expectations for large infrastructure and defense spending and easier monetary conditions underpinned gains, with defense and select tech‑industrial stocks leading.
- Oil prices held steady to slightly lower after the U.S. operation in Venezuela as President Trump promoted plans for U.S. firms to rebuild the country’s oil sector.
- People familiar with the matter said the White House is arranging talks with major oil companies about Venezuela, and energy shares have been volatile.
- Global risk appetite remained firm, with fresh highs on Wall Street and strong Asian sessions, as investors watch Eurozone inflation and U.S. labor data for policy signals.