FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - The Dax continued its recent recovery at a slower pace on Thursday. The leading German index rose by 0.41 percent to 18,450.48 points after climbing by around 1.2 percent in the middle of the week. The MDax mid-cap index gained 0.56% to 25,538.57 points. Due to a public holiday, there is no trading in New York this Thursday, which led to lower turnover on the German stock exchange.

Hopes of an interest rate cut are still supporting the stock market and record highs on the US stock exchange are driving the Dax, noted capital market strategist Jürgen Molnar from trading house Robomarkets. "However, it is probably only a matter of time before the pendulum swings back in the other direction and investors put economic risks, including fears of a recession, above monetary policy," the expert continued.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the US Federal Reserve were divided on the number of possible interest rate cuts in the current year. Four members expect no such measures, according to the minutes of the last Fed meeting published on Wednesday evening. Twice as many, on the other hand, expect two cuts. The average of the expectations is one. For the coming year, Fed officials expect an average of four cuts. That is more than previously estimated./la/he