Mercedes 2012 Annual Report Download - page 28

26
Volatile year on global stock markets. The world’s stock
markets made a positive start to the year 2012. Buoyed
by good company profits and key leading indicators pointing
towards further expansion of the world economy, share prices
increased on a broad front on international stock exchanges.
But renewed concern about the European sovereign debt
crisis, economic weakening and geopolitical stability caused
investors to prefer low-risk assets once again. As a result,
prices of government bonds with good credit ratings increased
significantly in the months of April and May, while share
prices fell substantially.
At the end of June, the positive assessment of statements
made at the EU summit in Brussels significantly improved
stock-market sentiment and share prices rose again. In late
July, statements by ECB President Draghi about supporting
the euro additionally boosted investor confidence. There was
further stimulus in September from the announcement of
new programs for the purchase of government bonds by the
ECB and of mortgage-backed securities by the US Federal
Reserve (QE3). As a result of this positive stream of news, the
major indices rose to new interim highs in September. How-
ever, following the presidential election in the United States
in November, a number of negative factors gave rise to increas-
ing uncertainty amongst investors. Those factors included
the fear that failure to avert the “fiscal cliff” (i.e. a combination
of automatic tax increases and spending cuts) would force
the USA back into recessions very quickly in 2013, the escalation
of violence in the Middle East and the tense situation in
Greece. Following the decision of the US Fed to expand the
bond-buyback program, many share indices reached new highs
for the year in December.
The index of the most important stocks in the euro zone,
the Dow Jones Euro STOXX 50, rose by 14% over the full year.
Germany’s main index, the DAX, performed even better due
to the robust state of the country’s industry and gained 29%.
In the United States, the Dow Jones climbed by 7% over the
year, and the Japanese Nikkei index closed the year with a gain
of 23%.

1.01
Daimler Shares
Share prices on the world’s stock exchanges are influenced by uncertainty about the
ongoing development of the European sovereign debt crisis and the world economy, as well
as by measures taken by central banks. Daimler’s share price gains 22% over the year.
The Board of Management and the Supervisory Board propose a dividend of €2.20 per share.
We offer investors and analysts a wide range of investor-relations services.
Development of Daimler’s share price and major indices
End of 2012 End of 2011 12/11
% change
Daimler’s share price (in euros) 41.32 33.92 +22
DAX 30 7,612 5,898 +29
Dow Jones Euro STOXX 50 2,636 2,317 +14
Dow Jones Industrial Average 13,104 12,218 +7
Nikkei 10,395 8,455 +23
Dow Jones STOXX Auto Index 351 259 +36
1.01
Key figures per share
2012 2011 12/11
In euros % change
Net profit 5.71 5.32 +7
Net profit (diluted) 5.71 5.31 +8
Dividend 2.20 2.20 0
Equity (December 31) 42.63 38.77 +10
Xetra price at year end1 41.32 33.92 +22
Highest1 48.45 58.46 -17
Lowest1 33.40 29.16 +15
1 Closing prices
1.02