Following a sharp increase in the price of Bayer shares in the fourth quarter of 2009, the company’s stock entered a phase of consolidation in the first quarter of 2010. The price ranged from €56.40 in early January to €46.82 in February. Bayer shares closed at €50.08 on March 31, down 10.5% on the quarter.
Capital market trends were heterogeneous over this period. While the DAX gained 3.3% in the first quarter, closing at 6,154 points, the European reference index EURO STOXX 50 (performance index) fell by 1.0% since the beginning of the year, closing the quarter at 4,653 points.