Germany's benchmark DAX

The German benchmark DAX index at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on Thursday increased by 1.41 percent, nearing the mark of 9,800 points.
The DAX index lost 136.63 points and closed at 9798.13 points. Investors were encouraged since the Federal Reserve signaled on Wednesday evening to maintain its commitment to low interest rates, according the German daily Handelsblatt.
Bayer AG advanced the most by 6.17 percent. The automotive manufacturer Continental AG rose by 2.83 percent, followed by Deutsche Bank AG, Allianz SE and adidas AG which went up by 2.33 percent, 2.08 percent and 1.97 percent respectively.
The building materials producer HeidelbergCement AG topped the losers' list, down by 0.98 percent. The personal care company Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens AG and Deutsche Lufthansa AG also slipped by 0.95 percent, 0.43 percent and 0.30 percent, respectively.
The turnover stood at 3.43 billion euros (around 4.42 billion U.S. dollars). Bayer AG was the most traded share of the day with a turnover of 531.45 million euros (around 685.57 million U.S. dollars).