Germany leads European market rise as PMI strengthens, oil prices ease

European equities were broadly firmer, with Germany’s DAX hitting a record high of 25,910 points and London’s UKX edging up 0.05%. The move was supported by improved manufacturing PMIs, lower oil prices, and falling bond yields, which helped lift risk appetite and make stocks relatively more attractive versus bonds. However, gains were capped by weakness in energy stocks and AstraZeneca. The British pound slipped below $1.35 even as the U.S. dollar weakened broadly, highlighting mixed macro signals. Overall, the article points to a constructive but selective European market tone, with cyclical support from better economic data offset by sector-specific drags and currency softness.