Germany's leading index, the Dax, has eclipsed its record from 2021. With a gain of 0.8 percent, the German benchmark index now stands at 16,292 points.
The trigger is cautious optimism about progress in the dispute over an increase in the debt ceiling in the United States. The old Dax record of around 16,290 points dates back to November 2021, before Russia's war against Ukraine and rising key interest rates as a result of high inflation dragged down stock markets.