Market trends

Large-scale investments in the area of AI infrastructure — such as semiconductors and cloud computing — herald gains in company efficiencies and profits in coming years. The iShares AI Infrastructure UCITS ETF, which tracks a STOXX index, has topped USD 100 million in assets only nine months following its launch in December last year.

The STOXX World AC index added 2.6% last month in US dollars to a new record, and rose 0.3% in euros. US stocks and Value indices led the advance for a second consecutive month.

The STOXX World AC index added 1.4% last month in US dollars and 4% in euros. US stocks and Value indices led the advance.

‘Made for Germany’ initiative from 61 firms, nearly half of which are DAX constituents, was presented to Chancellor Friedrich Merz as means to foster innovation, employment and competitiveness. The announcement comes amid the government’s spending plans to boost economic growth and investors’ mounting interest in German stocks this year.

ETFs tracking a STOXX or DAX index received a net EUR 23.4 billion in the first half of the year as the EURO STOXX 50, STOXX Europe 600, DAX and MDAX surged. Nearly 44% of all net flows into EMEA-focused equity funds over the period went to those tracking STOXX and DAX indices.

The STOXX World AC index added 4.5% last month in US dollars but only 1.1% in euros as the common currency advanced 3.1% against the greenback. The STOXX USA 500 rose 5.3%, above its February all-time high.

The STOXX World AC index added 5.8% last month in US dollars, erasing its 2025 losses. The Eurozone’s EURO STOXX 50 climbed 5.4%. Germany’s DAX advanced 6.7%, taking its gain this year to 21%.

The ability of minimum volatility indices to protect portfolios against major pullbacks and deliver stable returns gains relevance during market downturns.

The STOXX World AC index added 1.1% last month in US dollars but lost 4% in euros after the greenback retreated 4.8% against the common currency. While the Eurozone’s EURO STOXX 50 dropped, German benchmarks bucked the trend.

The EUR 18.9 billion attracted by the ETFs in one month compares with EUR 5.7 billion in net inflows for all of 2024. STOXX-linked ETFs attracted the most money in March, led by STOXX Europe 600 and Germany’s MDAX funds.

The STOXX World AC index dropped 3.8% last month, led by US stocks, as investors fretted about the outlook for US economic growth, inflation and international trade. The STOXX USA 500 posted its worst quarter relative to the STOXX Europe 600 in a decade.

A total of 4.3 million EURO STOXX 50 Index Dividend Options exchanged hands at Eurex last year, 11% more than in 2023 and 25% higher than in 2022.