FTSE 100 today: Index closes flat, pound slides

Investing.com – Germany stocks were mixed after the close on Tuesday, as gains in the Technology, Retail and Food & Beverages sectors led shares higher while losses in the Construction, Telecoms and Media sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Frankfurt, the DAX gained 0.02% to hit a new all time high, while the MDAX index fell 0.27%, and the TecDAX index declined 0.21%.

The best performers of the session on the DAX were Symrise AG Inh. O.N. (ETR:SY1G), which rose 5.05% or 3.58 points to trade at 74.42 at the close. Meanwhile, Zalando SE (ETR:ZALG) added 4.77% or 1.20 points to end at 26.38 and Infineon Technologies AG NA O.N. (ETR:IFXGn) was up 2.09% or 0.87 points to 42.53 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Fresenius Medical Care KGAA ST (ETR:FMEG), which fell 3.20% or 1.30 points to trade at 39.34 at the close. Deutsche Telekom AG Na (ETR:DTEGn) declined 2.47% or 0.71 points to end at 27.98 and Deutsche Boerse AG (ETR:DB1Gn) was down 2.34% or 5.00 points to 209.00.

The top performers on the MDAX were Aurubis AG (ETR:NAFG) which rose 4.27% to 141.50, Wacker Chemie O.N. (ETR:WCHG) which was up 3.62% to settle at 72.95 and Fuchs Se Pref (ETR:FPE3_p) which gained 3.60% to close at 39.70.

The worst performers were Fraport AG (ETR:FRAG) which was down 3.93% to 70.80 in late trade, Freenet AG NA (ETR:FNTGn) which lost 3.19% to settle at 28.54 and Nemetschek AG O.N. (ETR:NEKG) which was down 2.66% to 89.80 at the close.

The top performers on the TecDAX were Cancom SE O.N. (ETR:COKG) which rose 3.23% to 28.80, Atoss Software AG (ETR:AOFG) which was up 2.93% to settle at 119.40 and Kontron AG (ETR:KTN) which gained 2.63% to close at 25.00.

The worst performers were SMA Solar Technology AG (ETR:S92G) which was down 6.27% to 33.80 in late trade, Ottobock SE & Co KgaA (ETR:OBCK) which lost 3.66% to settle at 68.35 and Freenet AG NA (ETR:FNTGn) which was down 3.19% to 28.54 at the close.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange by 320 to 319 and 29 ended unchanged.

Shares in Infineon Technologies AG NA O.N. (ETR:IFXGn) rose to 3-years highs; up 2.09% or 0.87 to 42.53. Shares in Aurubis AG (ETR:NAFG) rose to all time highs; rising 4.27% or 5.80 to 141.50.

The DAX volatility index, which measures the implied volatility of DAX options, was up 3.31% to 16.35 a new 1-month high.

Gold Futures for February delivery was up 0.12% or 5.69 to $4,620.39 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in February rose 2.88% or 1.71 to hit $61.03 a barrel, while the March Brent oil contract rose 2.41% or 1.54 to trade at $65.41 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.21% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.02% to 0.87.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.31% at 98.93.

Investing.com -- Deutsche Bank upgraded lithium producers as stronger energy storage demand and higher prices are tightening the market after a prolonged downturn.

Albemarle was lifted to Buy from Hold on supportive pricing outlook improves earnings visibility even after the sector’s sharp correction.

DB said lithium demand linked to energy storage systems is rising faster than expected, helping absorb excess supply.

It raised its 2026 lithium price forecast by 37% to $15.4 per kg, which underpins higher cash flow expectations for large, diversified producers.

Albemarle remains exposed to policy and financing swings in solar-linked demand, but DB said higher spot and contract prices reduce near-term downside.

DB also upgraded Chilean producer SQM to Buy, citing similar market drivers alongside company-specific relief.

Uncertainty around the company’s joint venture with state miner Codelco has eased, removing a key overhang on the stock.

Improved spot pricing is also flowing into contract prices, supporting margins. DB assumes additional output from the SQM-Codelco partnership, which it sees as achievable under the revised agreement. Despite lifting valuation multiples, DB said SQM still trades at a discount to Albemarle, in line with historical patterns.

Lithium Argentina was upgraded to Buy on what DB described as a mix of higher prices and solid execution.

Brokerage pointed to steady volume growth and cost control at the Cauchari-Olaroz project, which began production last year.

Its valuation assumes a gradual ramp-up over the next several years, with cash flows extending well into the next decade, while factoring in Argentina’s jurisdiction risk.

Energy storage demand is helping offset slower growth in some EV markets, while supply discipline and project delays are tightening conditions.

Investing.com – Poland stocks were lower after the close on Tuesday, as losses in the Banking, Oil & Gas and Energy sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Warsaw, the WIG30 fell 0.17%.

The best performers of the session on the WIG30 were CD PROJEKT SA (WA:CDR), which rose 5.19% or 12.50 points to trade at 253.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Jastrzebska Spotka Weglowa SA (WA:JSW) added 3.92% or 1.00 points to end at 26.50 and Cyfrowy Polsat SA (WA:CPS) was up 3.18% or 0.42 points to 13.64 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Zabka Group SA (WA:ZAB), which fell 4.00% or 0.93 points to trade at 22.31 at the close. Pepco Group Nv (WA:PCOP) declined 3.41% or 1.05 points to end at 29.77 and Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA (WA:PKO) was down 1.96% or 1.74 points to 87.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Warsaw Stock Exchange by 306 to 251 and 97 ended unchanged.

Crude oil for February delivery was up 3.29% or 1.95 to $61.27 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in March rose 2.80% or 1.79 to hit $65.66 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract fell 0.03% or 1.26 to trade at $4,613.44 a troy ounce.

EUR/PLN was unchanged 0.07% to 4.21, while USD/PLN rose 0.27% to 3.62.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.31% at 98.93.

Investing.com -- Boeing (NYSE:BA) stock rose 2.25% Tuesday after the aircraft manufacturer reported a 72% jump in deliveries for 2025, reaching 600 aircraft, its highest level since 2018.

The U.S. planemaker also outpaced European rival Airbus (EPA:AIR) in net orders for the first time in seven years, booking 1,075 net new orders after cancellations compared to Airbus’s 889. This marked Boeing’s sixth-highest annual total for adjusted net orders.

December proved particularly strong for Boeing, with 63 aircraft deliveries—the most in a monthly period since 2023. The December total included 44 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets and 14 787 Dreamliners.

For the full year 2025, Boeing delivered 440 737 MAX aircraft and 88 787 Dreamliners, the highest number of Dreamliner deliveries since 2019. Demand for the 787 has surged, with Boeing securing 368 Dreamliner orders after cancellations last year, nearly matching its record of 369 orders in 2007.

The company’s order momentum continued with Alaska Airlines finalizing orders for five 787s and 105 737-10s in December. Additionally, Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) announced Tuesday it would purchase 30 Boeing 787-10 aircraft to strengthen its long-haul fleet.

Boeing has been working to rebuild its reputation under CEO Kelly Ortberg following challenges including two plane crashes, the COVID-19 pandemic, factory strikes, and a mid-air panel blowout that disrupted production and increased debt. The company expects to achieve positive cash flow in 2026, supported by higher commercial jet deliveries.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- Cheniere Energy (NYSE:LNG) will process 10 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas by the end of 2026, CEO Jack Fusco said on Tuesday at an American Petroleum Institute (API) event in Washington.

Fusco expressed optimism about the United States’ potential to expand its role as an exporter in the liquefied natural gas market.

The announcement comes as the energy sector faces potential challenges, with Marathon Oil’s CEO separately noting that oil prices dropping below $50 per barrel would be a "concern" for U.S. producers.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Investing.com -- Bank of America raised its price target on Micron to $400 from $300 per share in a note this week, citing stronger DRAM pricing and a favourable supply backdrop. 

Analyst Vivek Arya maintained a Buy rating and said BofA is responding to “continued increase in DRAM spot price and still disciplined Samsung capex spend in CY26.”

According to BofA, the memory market is benefiting from a combination of rising demand and constrained near-term expansion. 

The bank noted that while SK Hynix and Micron “have planned for substantial capex hikes this year,” the industry’s physical footprint remains a bottleneck. “

"Industry clean room space remains limited, with material equipment installation and volume production still likely 2-3 years away,” Arya wrote.

BofA stated that these constraints support a prolonged upcycle for memory, particularly as high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and data-center demand continue to build. 

The bank’s new $400 price target is based on “3.0x CY27E P/B, or at the high-end of historical 0.8x-3.1x range given the ongoing memory upcycle,” which BofA believes is reinforced by “earnings expansion (upcycle + HBM/DC ramp).”