11:53 AM EDT, 10/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- German stocks were little changed on Tuesday, with the blue-chip DAX index ending the trading session 0.06% lower, as markets mulled over the latest economic sentiment survey from the eurozone's largest economy and the political uncertainty in neighboring France. The ZEW economic sentiment indicator for Germany fell to 28.1 points in October from 34.7 points in September, missing the consensus estimate of 30.2 points. On the other hand, the current situation indicator improved to -35.9 points from -47.1 points, beating the expected -45 points. "The German economy is slowly emerging from stagnation, but the recovery is not self-sustaining. Private consumption and investment remain weak because of high energy prices: They put real incomes under pressure, increase production costs and keep inflation higher for longer," ZEW President Achim Wambach said. Meanwhile, Destatis reported that producer prices of industrial products in the country climbed 6.7% year over year in September 2026, following a 4.6% increase in the previous month, marking the index's strongest annual growth since March 2023. On a monthly basis, producer prices were 1.9% higher. The German Federal Statistical Office mainly attributed the annual increase to higher energy and intermediate goods prices. On the regulatory front, analysts at Danske Bank expect the European Central Bank to maintain its key rates at its Oct. 29 monetary policy meeting. "While inflation surprised to the upside in September, rising to 3.7% y/y, the spillovers from energy costs to underlying inflation remain very muted, and firms' selling price expectations in services and retail even declined," Danske Bank said. "We thus believe that the ECB is not in a hurry to hike policy rates as early as October and prefers to wait until December to deliver the next hike, when it will have more data and new projections." In corporate news, the European Commission cleared the acquisition of Italian railway technology group MerMec by Siemens' (SIE.F) Siemens Mobility unit, saying the transaction, which mainly relates to rolling stock, rail diagnostics, electrification, and signalling supply, would not raise competition concerns. Siemens was down 2.24% at closing. Deutsche Bank Research lowered its price target for Wacker Chemie (WCH.F) to 84 euros from 92.6 euros, with an unchanged hold rating on the stock, as it noted the German specialty chemicals company's improving earnings and "strong" near-term earnings momentum despite rising risks. Wacker Chemie fell 2.84%.

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