Wednesday's sessions on global markets brought a clear improvement in sentiment. Investors reacted positively to signs of stabilization in the technology sector and optimistic reports from nuclear negotiations between the USA and Iran. Germany's DAX surpassed the 25,000-point barrier for the first time in a month, and Wall Street continues to rise despite hawkish signals from the Federal Reserve regarding no rush to lower interest rates.

DAX Breaks Through Barrier

The German DAX index rose by 1.12%, surpassing the psychological barrier of 25,000 points, reaching its highest level since mid-January 2026.

Breakthrough in Talks with Iran

Reports of an agreement on the nuclear program calmed the markets, although Vice President J.D. Vance remains skeptical about Tehran's stance.

Fed Cools Expectations

The FOMC minutes and statements by Michael Barr suggest that interest rates in the US will remain high for a longer time due to inflation.

The trading session on February 18, 2026, was marked as a moment of returning optimism to the world's most important trading floors. The main driver of gains was the rebound of the technology sector, which in recent weeks had been under pressure from concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence on traditional economic branches. The German DAX index gained 1.12%, closing the day at 25,278.21 points, its highest reading since mid-January. Similar sentiment prevailed in New York, where the Dow Jones rose by 0.26%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained thanks to good results from companies like Garmin or New York Times, in which the Berkshire Hathaway fund invested. The DAX index, grouping the 40 largest companies listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange, is considered the main barometer of economic health not only for Germany but for the entire eurozone since its creation in 1988.Parallel to market events, investors followed reports from Geneva and Switzerland, where an alleged agreement on "guiding principles" regarding the Iranian nuclear program was reached. This information initially caused a drop in oil prices, but later statements from US politicians, including Vice President J.D. Vance, reminded of ongoing uncertainty, which stabilized the price of Brent crude at around $67.60. Meanwhile, the published minutes from the FOMC meeting indicated that the Fed does not plan imminent cuts to interest rates, which strengthened the dollar against Asian currencies. Changes in Major Stock Indices: DAX: 1.12, Nikkei 225: 1.02, S&P 500: 0.51, Dow Jones: 0.26, TSX: 0.48 Also noteworthy is the situation in the commodities market, where copper rose by 2.2% to $12,893 per ton, which analysts link to so-called dip-buying. In Europe, natural gas prices fell below 30 euros per MWh thanks to forecasts of warmer weather, easing concerns about storage levels at the end of the heating season. The day also brought speculation about an earlier departure of Christine Lagarde from her position as president of the ECB, although bond markets reacted calmly to these reports. 25,278 — points was the closing price of the DAX index„Based on current conditions and data, it will likely be appropriate to maintain interest rates at a stable level for some time.” — Michael Barr

Mentioned People

  • Christine Lagarde — President of the European Central Bank, whose alleged early departure from her position was analyzed by investors.
  • J.D. Vance — US Vice President, who commented on the progress in talks with Iran with great reserve.
  • Michael Barr — Governor of the Federal Reserve, who ruled out rapid interest rate cuts.