Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (DB), BASF SE (ADR) (BASFY): German Stocks Falter as European Crisis Fears Re-Emerge

One word is rearing its ugly head again across the Atlantic in Europe: crisis. Portugal’s debt situation and Greece’s ongoing economic weakness are threatening Europe’s relative stability of the past year. The nations on the periphery are a far cry from fiscally conservative powerhouse Germany, but will the region’s strongest economy — and its investors — be affected as well by the continent’s economic troubles?

The DAX PERFORMANCE-INDEX (INDEXDB:DAX) sure didn’t inspire much confidence this week as the German index dumped 2.4% on Friday to cement a week in the red. What caused the drop? A combination of factors both within and without Europe’s economic stalwart have hurt investors this week. Let’s catch up on the latest.

Europe fears resurface
Portugal commands attention across Europe as the nation struggles to meet its EU and IMF bailout obligations. The country’s bond yields have surged, and two governing ministers attempted to resign earlier in the month, inciting fears that the country’s stability since its bailout may be coming to an end. Greece is also struggling to meet its obligations, and Germany and other leading economies in Europe can’t afford a reigniting of the dangers that inflicted so many of the continent’s economic woes.

Those fears sparked a sell-off in the European banking sector during the week, although the ECB attempted to stave off fears by leaving interest rates unchanged at current lows. Ratings firm S&P hit Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) with a ratings cut on Tuesday, downgrading Germany’s big bank from an “A-plus” to an “A.” S&P cited the European economy’s sluggishness for diminishing Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB)’s growth prospects, but regulatory rules around the world are hampering the company’s competitiveness as it tries to keep up with other leading international financial firms. With Deutsche Bank AG (USA) (NYSE:DB) also potentially facing a cash shortfall in order to keep up with regulatory proposals, Germany’s pillar of finance may be one of the country’s first stocks to wade into trouble.

More worrisome for investors, Germany’s own economy is hardly booming. The country’s factory orders fell for a second straight month in May, dropping 1.3%. Economists had expected growth out of Germany’s industrial sector, and the unexpected fall is a sign that the region’s ongoing slump is hitting German firms hard.