Germany's leading stock market index, the blue-chip DAX index, broke above the psychologically important level of 12,000 points for the first time on Monday.
The DAX rose to a record intraday high of 12,001.98 points in the first 45 minutes of trading in Frankfurt, an increase of 0.84 percent from the closing price on Friday. It subsequently fell back below the 12,000 level to show a gain of 0.79 percent at 11,995.92 points.