Basler shares jump 12% as European equities hold steady after record DAX run

The German image‑processing specialist Basler saw its share price rise more than 12% following an upgrade by Warburg Research, which lifted the rating from “Hold” to “Buy” and raised the target price to €31. The boost came on the back of strong first‑quarter results: revenue grew 30% to €77.3 million, order intake rose 64% to €85.6 million, and EBIT surged 184% to €17.6 million, lifting the EBIT margin from 10.5% to 22.7%. Growth was driven by demand in China and the semiconductor, electronics and logistics sectors, while cost‑cutting measures improved operating leverage.

At the same time, Europe’s headline index, the DAX, opened only marginally lower, slipping 0.2% to 25,770 points after a series of record highs. A sharp decline in Asian AI‑related stocks, led by an 8% plunge in South Korea’s Kospi and a 5% drop in Samsung after its Q2 results, weighed on market sentiment. Analysts noted a “first AI stress test” as valuations in the sector appear stretched. Oil prices fell and interest rates remained stable, supporting the broader market’s resilience.