What is the DAX 30 index?
- The DAX 30 is Germany’s main stock market index. It has the tickers GER 30 or DAX 30.
- It is similar to the CAC 40 in France, or the Dow Jones US 30 index in the USA.
- Although it was originally comprised of the 30 largest publicly traded companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, this number was increased to 40 companies in 2020
- It is a market capitalisation-weighted index, meaning not all companies carry the same weight in the index. Companies with higher market capitalisation have more impact on its value
- Companies included in the GER 30 can have a maximum weight of 10%
- The prices used to compute the index come from Xetra, which is an electronic trading system
- It is often used as a barometer of the German economy and the health of the broader European market
- It is considered a key measure of Germany’s economic strength, particularly in the manufacturing and industrial sectors
Background to the DAX 30
- It was launched in December 1987 by Deutsche Börse, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
- It was started with a base value of 1,000, and currently trades at over 21,200 (current as of January 2025)
- In September 2024 it reached a high of over 16,000, but since then, it has soared to its present value over 21,200
- It is the German equivalent of the UK’s FTSE 100 or the US’s Dow Jones Industrial Average
- The index includes companies from a variety of sectors, including automotive, technology, finance, healthcare, and industrial
- The index is calculated based on the price changes of its constituent stocks, weighted according to their market capitalisation
- It is a globally recognised index, and is often used as a proxy for the overall health of the European economy
- The DAX 30 can be traded through various financial instruments, including CFDs, ETFs, and futures
What does the DAX 30 consist of?
- It consists of 40 blue-chip companies listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Bourse Frankfurt)
- The index includes international giants that have a strong presence in global markets
- Many of the companies in the DAX 30 are involved in manufacturing and export activities
- It is recalibrated regularly to reflect changes in the market cap of the various companies which make up the index
What are some of the most popular stocks that make up the DAX 30?
The makeup of the DAX 30 changes regularly, but these are some of the most well-known stocks currently included in the index:
(This list is current as of January 2025)
- SAP
- Deutsche Telekom
- Siemens Healthineers
- Allianz
- Merck
- Munich RE
- Mercedes-Benz
- Porsche
- Airbus
- Volkswagen
- BMW
- BASF
- DHL Group
What factors influence the price of the DAX 30?
- German economic data, such as GDP growth, industrial production, the unemployment rate and export data
- Changes in the euro exchange rate in comparison to other global currencies
- Global demand for German-made goods, particularly automotive and machinery exports
- Corporate earnings reports from DAX 30 companies, including profit margins and revenue growth
- European Central Bank’s monetary policy
- Eurozone interest rates
- Investor sentiment and geopolitical developments in Europe
- Trade wars and tariffs, particularly after BREXIT
- European political instability such as the Eurozone debt crisis which involved Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Ireland, created uncertainty about the stability of the European Monetary Union
What are the benefits of trading the DAX 30 index using CFDs?
- Cost efficiency: Trading the DAX 30 using CFDs often has lower entry costs compared to traditional stock market transactions
- No physical ownership: With no need to purchase the underlying assets, traders can avoid extra fees associated with physical ownership
- Access to margin trading: CFDs offer margin trading, allowing traders to deposit only a fraction of the full value of the trade. This is advantageous for traders who wish to manage their trading capital more efficiently and trade larger positions
- 24-hour trading: CFDs allow trading outside of regular market trading hours, providing traders with greater flexibility and the ability to respond to global events that may impact DAX 30 prices, even when the German stock market is closed
24-hour market
Unlike other financial markets, the forex market operates 24-hours a day, five days a week, allowing you to trade at any time that suits you, regardless of your location
Trade long or short
With forex trading,you have the flexibility to profit in both rising (long) and falling (short) markets, giving you more opportunities to make profitable trades
Diverse trading opportunities
With a wide range of currency pairs to choose from, you’ll be able to find trading opportunities in most economic conditions and market types
Access to leverage
Let your trading benefit from high leverage opportunities, allowing you to control a larger position with a smaller capital investment, potentially increasing your profits
Long and short-selling opportunities
CFDs enable traders to take both long and short trading positions. This flexibility allows you to profit in both rising and falling markets
Relative stability
The DAX 30 index is considered a relatively stable index compared to other financial assets like cryptocurrency, for example.
Global market connectivity
CFDs such as the DAX 30 come with the ability to trade other indices, commodities, forex, and stocks from the same platform.
Hedging opportunities
CFDs such as the DAX 30 index can be used to hedge existing positions in other related assets
Frequently asked questions
What are the trading hours for the DAX 30?
The official trading hours for the DAX 30 on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange are from 8.00am to 4.30pm UTC.
However, it can also be traded outside these hours through MarketMates using CFDs.
Is the DAX 30 more volatile than other indices?
The DAX 30 is considered more volatile than indices like the S&P 500, as it is heavily weighted towards sectors like industrials and manufacturing, which are sensitive to global economic shifts.
What are the risks of trading the DAX 30?
Trading the DAX 30 comes with risks like high volatility, leverage-related losses, and exposure to macroeconomic events that can cause significant price swings.
What is the margin requirement for trading the DAX 30?
The required capital depends on the margin requirement set by your broker. For example, when trading with MarketMates, the margin is 1%. This means you’ll need $100 to open a $10,000 position.
Always ensure you have sufficient funds to manage potential losses and avoid margin calls.
Are there any correlations between the DAX 30 and other markets?
What trading strategies work best for the DAX 30?
Popular strategies include trend-following, scalping during high-volatility sessions, and trading around European economic news and German corporate earnings reports.
Why MarketMates?
Marketmates is a fairer, more transparent way to trade from a broker who is on YOUR side
Get started with a FREE account for unlimited trading, with no markups on spread, swap or commission
DAX 30 Index Chart
A powerful chart for you to use with all the customisable options you’d expect from TradingView.
Change the ticker, the time view, the type of chart you wish to view, and then add your favourite indicators.
Indices Market Data
This market data list provides a broad overview of indices market performance, including value, change per cent, open, high, low and previous price.
Indices Market News
Keep track of what’s happening in the financial markets with this daily news summary, filtered to bring you the most important news as it happens.
Use the slider on the right-hand side to reveal more news items.
German Economic Calendar
Never miss vital upcoming economic events with this customisable economic events calendar, currently set to show calendar events from Germany.
See all the events and announcements you need to know, with the ability to set up filters for:
- Event importance (all, or key events only)
- Different countries or regions
