SHE is one half of TV’s most romantic couple in Netflix’s No1 UK hit Nobody Wants This. But in real life, Kristen Bell’s relationship is a little more unconventional — as she admits she would not bat an eyelid if husband Dax Shepard cheated. Kristen, 45, said of infidelity: “Kind of who cares, to be…
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KRISTEN Bell fans have been left horrified after she shared a “weird” wedding anniversary post to husband Dax Shephard.
The Nobody Wants This actress, 45, was celebrating being wed to Dax, 50, for 12 years.
In the Instagram post Kristen can be seen with her legs wrapped around the Parenthood star, as he pulls her close to him.
However, it wasn’t the picture that caused a stir with fans – it was the caption.
Writing next to the post Kristen wrote: “Happy 12th wedding anniversary to the man who once said to me: ‘I would never kill you. A lot of men have killed their wives at a certain point. Even though I’m heavily incentivized to kill you, I never would.’❤️”
But some fans thought this was an “odd” thing to write to commerate such a milestone in their relationship.
Taking to the comments, a follower wrote: “I don’t get it! That was weird.”
Another echoed this with: “That’s….a very weird thing to say.
This fan added: “What an odd thing to say.”
A fourth said: “May this type of relationship never find me.”
However other fans were loving the post, with one saying: “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve heard! Lol.”
Another added: “I get this, this them. It’s sweet.”
This one commented: “Love you guys!”
This isn’t the first time that the couple have caused a stir.
In July, Dax shared a NSFW picture of his wife doing a handstand in the nude.
In the snap, Kristen can be seen completely naked – except for a pair of knee-length compression socks – while doing a handstand.
In the caption, he penned, “People might not know everything that happens behind the scenes in order to create an Emmy nominated performance like Kristen’s.
“This may or may not have been a part of her training, but it felt right.
“CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!”
Fans in the comments were divided by the post, with some finding it hilarious, others in awe of Kristen’s toned body, and some other saying how Kristen would be mad.
“Hahaha she’s gonna kick your a**,” joked one person.
“She’s gonna kill you,” echoed another.
“Why the f**k would you post this?” said this fan.
However, this fan said: “I wouldn’t be mad at Dax for posting if I also looked this good! Go girl.”
Another echoed: “I’d love the confidence to cartwheel naked lmao.
Kristen and her husband Dax began dating back in 2007, with them announcing their engagement in 2010.
The couple then delayed their marriage until the state of California passed legislation on legalising same-sex marriage, and when this happened in 2013, Kristen then asked Dax to marry her on social media.
The famous pair wed at the Beverly Hills County Clerk’s Office in the fall of 2013.
Kristen and Dax share two daughters: Lincoln (born March 2013) and Delta (born December 2014).
European equities have entered what is historically the most challenging stretch of the calendar year, as August and September consistently deliver the weakest returns for the region’s stock markets.
Following a strong first half in 2025 and a slightly positive July, history suggests that the summer momentum in European equities often loses steam as August arrives.
The month is typically defined by thinner trading volumes, greater market sensitivity to economic and geopolitical headlines, and a consistent pattern of higher volatility.
Analysis of the past three decades reveals a clear seasonal downturn in August.
The EURO STOXX 50, Europe’s blue-chip benchmark, has averaged a 1.66% decline during the month over the past 30 years, making it the worst-performing month of the year.
It has ended August in positive territory only 43% of the time, and the broader STOXX Europe 600 tells a similar story.
Over the past 24 years, this index has fallen by an average 0.7% in August, also with a 43% winning ratio. The most brutal August came in 1998, when the EURO STOXX 50 plunged 14.4%, followed closely by 2001’s 13.79% loss.
Zooming in on national markets, the pattern of August weakness is equally pronounced.
This period is the weakest month for Germany’s DAX, which posts an average decline of 2.2% and finishes in positive territory just 47% of the time.
In France, the CAC 40 drops by 1.47% on average in August, narrowly ahead of September’s 1.49% average fall, and sees only a 37% winning rate.
Italy’s FTSE MIB and Spain’s IBEX 35 also see the negative sign, logging average August losses of 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively.
A group of Germany’s blue chips consistently show downward August bias, with some of them marking it as their worst month of the year, both in terms of returns and win probability.
According to TradingView data, some of the hardest-hit stocks include:
• Thyssenkrupp AG leads the decline, tumbling an average 4.6% in August with a win rate of just 30%, meaning it has posted gains in only 9 of the past 30 years.
• BMW AG averages a 4.1% loss in August with just a 37% win rate. Volkswagen AG, meanwhile, falls 3.3% and ends the month higher only 27% of the time — proof that even automakers aren’t spared from late-summer volatility.
• Deutsche Bank AG, Germany’s largest lender, averages a 3.47% drop in August and matches Thyssenkrupp’s 30% win ratio.
• Utility giant E.ON SE and industrial titan Siemens AG also feel the seasonal drag, both slipping by nearly 2%, with win rates of 37% and 40%, respectively.
• Deutsche Börse AG, operator of Germany’s stock exchange, and consumer goods firm Beiersdorf AG both see their weakest performance in August, falling 1.72% and 1.66% on average, with win rates of 48% and 39%, respectively.
With the EURO STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 up 8% and 7%, respectively, European equities have delivered a solid year-to-date performance.
Much of this rebound has come on the back of a strong recovery from April’s tariff-induced downturn, mirroring a broader global equity upswing.
But history warns that August marks a persistent seasonal soft spot — particularly for Germany’s corporate heavyweights, which tend to underperform more than their European peers.
From broad indices to blue-chip stocks, the month shows a consistent pattern of lower returns, thinner liquidity, and heightened vulnerability to negative news flow.
While no seasonal trend guarantees future performance, August remains, by many measures, the most challenging month for European investors.
By Tina Teng
Published on
28/05/2025 – 7:29 GMT+2
ADVERTISEMENTEuropean stock markets extended their rally for a second consecutive trading day on Tuesday as concerns over escalating US-EU trade tensions eased. Germany’s DAX rose 0.82% to 24,226.49, marking a fresh record high, while the Euro Stoxx 600 climbed 0.33% to 552.33, edging within 0.2% of its March peak.
US President Donald Trump expressed optimism toward the trade negotiations. “I have just been informed that the EU has called to quickly establish meeting dates,” he wrote in the Truth Social, “This is a positive event, and I hope that they will, FINALLY, like my same demand to China, open up the European Nations for Trade with the United States of America. They will BOTH be very happy, and successful, if they do!!!”
The US president’s comments also lifted Wall Street, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 1.78%, the S&P 500 rising 2.05%, and the Nasdaq composite surging 2.47%.
On Sunday, Trump announced he had agreed to postpone the implementation of a 50% tariff on EU imports until 9 July, following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. During the call, von der Leyen expressed the EU’s readiness “to advance talks swiftly and decisively” in a bid to avert further trade escalation.
Trump had initially announced 20% “reciprocal tariffs” on EU goods on 2 April before reducing the rate to 10% for 90 days. However, last Friday, he threatened to impose a 50% tariff from 1 June, citing frustration over the pace of negotiations and disagreement among EU member states.
While specific meeting dates remain absent publicly, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is expected to meet his US counterpart in Paris next Tuesday during the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) summit. Talks are expected to focus on removing bilateral tariffs on industrial goods and addressing US import levies on steel, aluminium, semiconductors, automobiles, and pharmaceutical products, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Earlier this month, the EU postponed a proposed package of retaliatory tariffs on up to €95 billion worth of US imports, including wine, spirits, aircraft, auto parts, electrical products, and more.
The DAX is up 22% year-to-date, making it the top performer among major global indices. The index had pulled back sharply in April following Trump’s announcement of the reciprocal tariffs but has consistently rebounded on signs of de-escalation in trade tensions.
In sectors, the defence and banking stocks led the broad gains, underpinned by optimism over Germany’s fiscal and defence spending reforms. In March, Germany’s Friedrich Merz announced plans to increase defence spending beyond 1% of GDP and a €500 billion special fund for infrastructure investment. The landmark fiscal package particularly lifted sentiment in European defence and industrial stocks, with Rheinmetall AG shares soaring 207% so far this year, repeatedly hitting new highs.
Meanwhile, European banking stocks have been supported by the European Central Bank’s accommodative monetary policy stance, which has bolstered investment banking income and lending activity. Shares of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank soared 50% and 75% respectively this year.
Despite the bullish momentum in equities, the euro weakened against the US dollar, as the greenback staged a strong rebound following Trump’s decision to delay tariffs — a move that mirrored previous dollar rallies during the US-China trade talks.
The EUR/USD pair fell to just above 1.13 during Wednesday’s Asian session, retreating from over 1.14 on Monday, as markets priced in renewed optimism over US-EU trade negotiations and an improved US economic outlook.
