FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX)

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SHARES

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GERMANY: - MODERATE GAINS EXPECTED - After the strong previous day, the Dax is likely to extend its gains somewhat on Thursday. Broker IG estimated the leading German index 0.2 percent higher at 18,408 points around two and a half hours before the Xetra start. This would mean that it would once again test its 50-day average line, currently at 18,402 points. It has kept the DAX in a sideways movement in recent weeks and also caught the July high of 18,460 points. The day before, the US technology stock exchange Nasdaq had hit record highs right at the start of the shortened trading session. After the end of European trading, however, the Nasdaq 100 and Nasdaq Composite closed at record highs. There is no trading in the USA this Thursday due to the holiday.

USA: - TECH STOCKS STILL IN DEMAND - The highs on the technology stock market Nasdaq continued in the middle of the week. After missing a record high by a hair's breadth on Tuesday, the Nasdaq 100 index soared to a new high on Wednesday. With a gain of 0.87% to 20,186.63 points, the Nasdaq 100 broke away from the round 20,000 mark. One day before the Independence Day holiday, trading ended two hours earlier than usual and the US stock markets will remain closed on Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial benchmark index was much quieter, closing 0.06 percent lower at 39,308.00 points. The broad-based S&P 500 closed 0.51% higher at 5,537.02 points and, like the Nasdaq 100, reached a new high.

ASIA: - NIKKEI ON RECORD HIGH - The Japanese leading index Nikkei 225 continued to approach its record high on Thursday with a gain of 0.9 percent. Borsians pointed to a continued positive mood among investors with regard to the development of corporate profits and the continued weakness of the yen. By contrast, the CSI 300, which tracks the most important stocks on the Chinese mainland stock exchanges, fell by 0.2 percent in late trading, while the technology-heavy Hang Seng Index in the Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong was only just in the red.

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DAX 18374.53 1.16%

XDAX 18413.44 1.26%

EuroSTOXX 50 4965.80 1.21%

Stoxx50 4508.77 0.40%

DJIA 39308.00 -0.06%

S&P 500 5537.02 0.51%

NASDAQ 100 20186.63 0.87%

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BONDS / FOREIGN EXCHANGE / CRUDE OIL

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YIELDS:

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Bund future 130.72 -0.03%

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DEVISES:

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Euro/USD 1.0785 -0.03

USD/Yen 161.54 -0.09

Euro/Yen 174.23 -0.11

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CRUDE OIL:

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Brent 86.87 -0.47 USD

WTI 83.35 -0.53 USD

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/mis