KION shares

Highly volatile stock market environment

The world’s stock markets were very nervous in 2015 and were characterised by strong volatility. Equities were a popular asset class as market interest rates remained very low, and this led to share price rises, especially in the first half of the year. However, the pricing level reached made the markets highly susceptible to external shocks. Slower growth in Asia and Latin America, turbulent capital markets in China, uncertainty about future monetary policy in the United States, geopolitical tension and, not least, the Volkswagen scandal resulted in a sharp price correction in the third quarter. The DAX, Germany’s main index, ceded virtually all of the gains that it had made in the first six months. In the fourth quarter, however, most indices rose considerably on the back of persistently good growth figures from industrialised nations. The DAX closed the year at 10,743 points, representing an increase of 9.6 per cent. The MDAX climbed by an even more impressive 22.7 per cent to reach 20,775 points, thereby significantly outperforming the blue-chip index.

Strong growth for KION shares

Further rise in free float and share repurchases

KION shares predominantly recommended as a buy

Dividend of €0.77 per share planned

Refinancing and credit rating