FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - After the setback of the previous day, the DAX is expected to gain slightly in the middle of the week. About two and a half hours before the Xetra start, the broker IG estimated the leading German index 0.3 percent higher at 18,216 points.

On Tuesday, at 18,030 points, the Dax had at times almost returned to its 100-day moving average before a few buyers were found again in the afternoon. This long-term trend indicator currently stands at 17,979 points and remains a downward orientation mark. On the upside, the aim is to surpass the previous day's high of 18,286 points and the 21-day line nine points above it.

As on Tuesday afternoon, the momentum of US technology stocks could help. The Nasdaq 100 index and the broader Nasdaq Composite had closed the previous evening only a hair's breadth below their Friday records.

In addition to generally strong semiconductor stocks, Tesla in particular stood out with a price increase of a good 10 percent. Investors thus rewarded unexpectedly good delivery figures in the first quarter./ag/zb