EUROPEAN SCHOLARSHIPS END ON THE RISE
PARIS (Reuters) – European stock markets finished higher on Tuesday with a record for the Parisian CAC 40, investors dismissing uncertainties related to the Omicron variant to focus on the positive announcements.
The CAC 40 index gained 0.57% to 7,181.11 points, a high at the close. The flagship index of the Paris Bourse rose to 7,187.76 during the session, which represents an absolute peak.
In Frankfurt, the Dax took 0.81% while the London Stock Exchange was closed for a public holiday.
The EuroStoxx 50 index advanced 0.56%, the FTSEurofirst 300 0.61% and the Stoxx 600 0.62%.
Optimism prevailed again on Tuesday on the equity markets in reduced trading volumes due to the absence of many players, especially the British.
However, cases of COVID-19 continue to multiply around the world, prompting many countries to impose new measures to limit the transmission of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is particularly contagious.
While the British government does not plan for new restrictions by the New Year in England, the French government has announced, unsurprisingly, a strengthening of measures but which for the time being do away with a curfew and the closure of bars and restaurants.
In terms of positive announcements, in the United States this time, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has halved the recommended isolation time for those infected but asymptomatic.
VALUES IN EUROPE
Almost all of the sectors of the European dimension were in the green on Tuesday and the most marked increase came to that of utilities. Its Stoxx index gained 1.24%.
Veolia took 2.74%, leading the CAC 40, ahead of Engie (+ 1.58%) and TechnipFMC (+ 1.12%).
RATES With fears about Omicron fading, government bond yields in Europe ended up slightly: that of the ten-year German Bund ended at -0.239% after hitting a one-month peak at – 0.221%.
In the United States, the yield on two-year Treasuries fell after reaching a high since March 2020, at 0.758%, in the face of weak demand generated by a two-year auction.
EXCHANGE In the currency market, the dollar was stable against a basket of benchmark currencies and the euro fell -0.12% below 1.13 dollars.
The yen stabilizes against the greenback after hitting a one-month low during the session, penalized by its status as a safe haven.
OIL
The oil market is rising on the back of production disruptions in Ecuador, Libya and Nigeria, and expectations of falling weekly crude stocks in the United States.
A barrel of Brent gained 0.67% to 79.13 dollars and that of US light crude (WTI), up for the fifth day in a row, took 0.58% to 76.01 dollars.
(edited by Sophie Louet)