The Dax rose by 0.5 percent to up to 18,475 points in the middle of the week, thus reaching a new record high. Deutsche Bank shares temporarily reached their highest level in six years.
Oil prices, on the other hand, are extending their previous day's losses. Investors are primarily focusing on Friday's data on personal consumer spending in the USA, which is the Fed's preferred inflation measure. The US stock exchanges gave up their profits on Tuesday after friendly trading and closed somewhat weaker.