As 2024 draws to a close, European stocks experienced a decline in the final full trading session, reflecting a year of modest gains compared to the bullish performance of U.S. markets. The DAX index, Germany's main equity benchmark, ended the year with an 18.85% gain, following a 20.3% rally in 2023, marking its most successful two-year run in over a decade. Despite this achievement, Germany's GDP is reported to have contracted in both 2023 and likely in 2024. The trading session on December 30 saw mixed openings across European markets, with investors remaining cautious amid higher bond yields. Global shares also retreated, indicating a lack of euphoria that characterized many markets earlier in the year.