PARIS, December 23 (Reuters) – The main European stock markets are up slightly on Thursday at the opening for the last full session before Christmas in a market climate won by cautious optimism on the impact of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
In Paris, the CAC 40 gained 0.19% to 7,065.16 points around 08:30 GMT. In London, the FTSE 100 takes 0.04% and in Frankfurt, the Dax is up 0.32%. The EuroStoxx 50 index is up 0.33%, the FTSEurofirst 300 by 0.18% and the Stoxx 600 by 0.24%.
Risk appetite has gradually improved since Monday after being shaken by government restrictions introduced to curb the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. While all questions are far from resolved, investors are regaining confidence in the economic outlook. Studies in South Africa and the UK indicated on Wednesday that the risk of hospitalization was lower with Omicron than with the Delta variant.
At values, Carmat gained 5.74% after announcing the end of its investigation into the quality problems of some of its artificial heart prostheses which made it possible to identify the necessary changes. Continental advance of 1.41%, among the largest increases of the Stoxx 600, the chairman of the management board having indicated that the automotive supplier could reach the top of the range of its forecast of annual margin.
In Amsterdam, the health technology group Philips is awarded 4.64% after announcing the first positive results on a large part of the fans recalled this year for a risk of degradation and toxicity of a foam component.
In the news of mergers and acquisitions, the British betting specialist Flutter, owner of Betfair and Poker Stars, gains 2.74% after announcing the takeover of the Italian gaming operator Sisal for 1.62 billion pounds (1 , 9 billion euros).
(Laetitia Volga, edited by Blandine Hénault)