FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Following the rise of Commerzbank at the end of February, Rheinmetall is also likely to join the premier stock market league in March. The stock market value of the armaments group and automotive supplier, measured in terms of freely tradable shares, probably makes it possible: with its so-called "free float market capitalization", which has now risen to 10.28 billion euros, it will oust dialysis specialist FMC from the Dax as of February 28, according to index experts. According to JPMorgan analyst Pankaj Gupta and Tom Koula of Stifel Europe, the latter is likely to be relegated to the MDax in the near future.

In addition, according to the experts, there are a number of other changes of place in the index of medium-sized stocks and in the index of smaller stocks, the SDax. Changes are also expected in the technology stocks index TecDax. Deutsche Börse will comment this Friday evening. Any changes will take effect on Monday, March 20.

In the MDax, Gupta, Koula and also SocGen analyst Yohan Le Jallé expect technology company Jenoptik to move up from the SDax. In addition, according to Gupta and Koula, the defense company Hensoldt should also have made this leap. On the other hand, biofuel producer Verbio and Software AG are likely to be relegated to the SDax, according to the experts.

In view of the sharp drop in the share price of U.S. network equipment manufacturer Adtran, the latter could also lose its place in the index of medium-sized companies, according to index specialist Tom Koula, and make room for bottling specialist Krones, which is currently still listed in the SDax.

In addition to these position changes, Koula also expects another promotion in the SDax: the insurer W&W (Wüstenrot & Württembergische) is likely to return to the small cap index. The Südzucker subsidiary and bioethanol producer Cropenergies will probably have to make way for it.

In the TecDax, Koula and JPMorgan analyst Gupta expect battery manufacturer Varta to leave the index in favor of radiation and medical technology specialist Eckert & Ziegler.

Meanwhile, index experts do not expect any changes for the major European indices. In the EuroStoxx 50, the share of the industrial gases manufacturer Linde was only recently replaced by the major Italian bank Unicredit. In the Stoxx Europe 50, the technology and defense group Safran had taken its place in view of Linde's stock market exit from Germany and Europe.

Index changes are particularly important for funds that replicate indices in real terms (physically replicating ETFs). There, rebalancing and rebalancing must then be carried out accordingly, which can have an impact on share prices./ck/tih/jha