Frankfurt's DAX 40 pared early losses to close about 0.6% down at 23,168 on Thursday, following reports that Iran and Oman were working on a memorandum of understanding concerning safe maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier, President Trump’s address drove oil prices higher, as he promised a swift end to the Middle East conflict but warned Iran of further attacks on its power plants if no deal is reached. The deadline for action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, extended by Trump, expires on April 6. Most sectors posted losses, with technology, financials, and industrials among the hardest hit. In equities, Deutsche Telekom slipped 3.3% as it traded ex-dividend, reflecting a €1.00 payout per share. Infineon (-3.2%), Heidelberg Materials (-2.7%), Siemens (-2.6%), Deutsche Bank (-2.6%) and Commerzbank (-2.6%) also saw steep losses. For the week, the index gained about 3.9%.