First Trust Germany AlphaDEX Fund

FGM

Market cap $100M

Investor confidence improved unexpectedly sharply on hopes the conflict in the Middle East would end soon and energy prices would drop.

Germany may face around €1 billion euros in additional budget costs after ​the European Commission allowed stronger electricity ‌price relief for industry than previously expected, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche told Handelsblatt on Tuesday.

An independent advisory panel urged the German government on Tuesday to channel more ​money from its €500 billion ($578.30 billion) infrastructure fund ‌into future-focused areas, including research and development, digitalisation and energy infrastructure.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and ​French President Emmanuel Macron ‌have concluded that the companies involved in ​building a joint ​fighter jet are unable to ⁠reach an agreement, ​two German government officials ​told Reuters on Monday.

The DAX in Germany spent most of the week selling, as the interest rates around the world continue to show concerns out there as the situation in the Middle East continues to be a major factor.

Asset manager Jupiter has been buying European government bonds, particularly shorter-dated German ​debt, and reducing exposure to U.S. Treasuries ‌because they think the market is pricing in too many rate hikes from the European Central ​Bank and Bank of England.

Germany's banking regulator BaFin warned on Tuesday that cyber risks were "growing" and "substantial" due to ​advances in artificial intelligence, and announced a new ‌division will conduct targeted inspections at financial firms.

European shares fell sharply on Tuesday as fading hopes of a peace deal between the United States and Iran pushed oil prices higher and weighed on investor sentiment across the region. Markets remained under pressure after US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “on life support.

German property prices rose 2.2% in the ​first quarter, the VDP ‌banking association said on Monday, but it warned that it ​remains to be ​seen how turmoil in the ⁠Middle East will weigh ​on the sector.

German banks have vast excess capital but do not lend it to companies and households because there is little demand ​from good borrowers and the outlook is uncertain due to ‌the Iran war, the Bundesbank's chief supervisor Michael Theurer said on Thursday.