Slightly weaker inflation in the euro zone supported the German stock market on Friday. The nervousness ahead of the US job market report expected in the afternoon eased somewhat. The Dax, which had quickly turned negative after a friendly start to trading, was up 0.04 percent at lunchtime to 14,442.23 points.

The leading German index is thus heading for a strong first week of trading in the new year. The weekly profit is currently more than three and a half percent. The MDax for medium-sized companies fell by 0.37 percent to 26,573.58 points on Friday afternoon. The Eurozone leading index EuroStoxx 50 gained 0.04 percent.

In the overall uncertain environment, defensive stocks, which are less affected by economic fluctuations, were ahead by a nose. Fresenius rose by 2.2 percent at the top of the Dax and reached its highest level since July 2022. The shares of the dialysis subsidiary FMC rose by 1.2 percent. In addition, Deutsche Telekom's shares increased by 1.0 percent.

The papers of Deutsche Post fell by 1.7 percent and were among the bottom of the Dax. With a view to a possible sale of the logistics company Schenker by Deutsche Bahn, analyst Samuel Bland from JPMorgan brought Deutsche Post DHL and the Danish DSV into play.

Rheinmetall shares were favorites in the MDax with a plus of 3.0 percent. Deliveries of Marder armored personnel carriers to Ukraine were mentioned on the market. In addition, Rheinmetall is seen as the successor to the Linde share in the Dax as soon as the industrial gases manufacturer and plant manufacturer in Germany goes public.

Delivery Hero brought up the rear with minus 6.4 percent. CFO Emmanuel Thomassin sold shares in the online food supplier worth around 1.4 million euros.