European markets report mixed economic trends and corporate shifts

Various European companies and regions report diverse economic developments for the first half of 2026. In Switzerland, the tech industry shows a fragile recovery with a 2.5% increase in revenue, driven primarily by large corporations while SMEs saw a 3.8% decline. Meanwhile, the Canton of Luzern plans to invest 250 million CHF in location promotion to remain competitive despite OECD minimum tax regulations.

In the financial sector, Deutsche Bank AG has completed a share buyback of over 35.7 million shares and is initiating a new program worth up to 500 million EUR. Fresenius Medical Care AG is also actively conducting share buybacks, having acquired over 5.8 million shares in its current tranche. Other banking updates include Deutsche Pfandbriefbank reporting a 16 million EUR profit despite rising risks in German commercial real estate, and Kaiser Partner Privatbank surpassing 10 billion CHF in assets under management.

Other corporate news includes SMG Swiss Marketplace Group reporting an 11.3% revenue increase and a doubling of net profit, and Metall Zug Group returning to break-even through improved efficiency. Ernst Russ AG reported stable operating cash flow despite a dip in EBIT due to the absence of previous ship sale gains.