The Paris stock market ended the session up 0.52% at 7450 points, driven in particular by Alstom (+2.4%) and Engie (+2.2%), all in limited volumes with less than 2.7 billion euros traded since the opening.

It was a busy day for statistics: in France, investors were informed this morning of new inflation data: consumer prices are estimated to have risen by 3.7% year-on-year in December 2023, marking an acceleration after +3.5% in November, according to a provisional estimate by Insee.

In Germany, inflation picked up again in December, reaching 3.7% year-on-year, compared with +3.2% in November, according to the first estimate released this Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office.

In the eurozone, the HCOB composite PMI index for overall activity in the eurozone remained stable in December (at 47.6) compared with the previous month, continuing to signal a sustained decline in private sector activity.

In France, this same index rose from 44.6 in November to 44.8 in December, reaching its highest level since last August. Nevertheless, it continues to point to a sharp contraction in the French private sector.

Across the Atlantic, the US private sector generated 164,000 new jobs in December 2023, according to the monthly survey published this Thursday by ADP, a specialist in human resources management outsourcing.

In addition, the US private sector saw a very slight acceleration in activity growth in December, according to S&P Global, whose composite PMI index came in at 50.9 on balance, compared with a flash estimate of 51 and 50.7 for the previous month.

Also in the USA, the Labor Department announced 202,000 new jobless claims for the week of December 25, down 18,000 on the previous week's revised figure.

Finally, data published by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that US crude oil inventories totalled 431.1 million barrels for the week of December 25, down 5.5 million barrels on the previous week.

These statistics - notably job creation in the USA and persistent inflation in France and Germany - are causing investors to fear that central banks will postpone the easing of their monetary policy.

Rising sovereign interest rates reflect this concern, with the yield on 10-year US Treasuries edging closer to 4%, while the German Bund for the same maturity reached and passed 2.1%.

Interest rate futures now include a 66% probability of a rate cut in March, according to the CME's FedWatch barometer, compared with 87% on Tuesday and 96% on Monday.

Note that the euro is gaining 0.3% against the greenback, around $1.095/E, while Brent crude oil is down to $76.6/barrel (-2.3%).

In French company news, Spie announces the acquisition of JD Euroconfort, presented as a leading player in the fields of refrigeration, air conditioning and professional kitchens, a transaction scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2024.

TotalEnergies says it has completed the implementation of the agreements signed in March 2023 with Canadian food retailer Couche-Tard, and has received a total cash amount after adjustments and before taxes of 3.4 billion euros.

Casino pointed out on Thursday that an independent expert had concluded that the terms of its financial restructuring plan were fair from the point of view of existing shareholders.

Vantiva (formerly known as Technicolor) announced that it had obtained authorization from the South African authorities to proceed with the acquisition of CommScope's Home Networks business.

Finally, Argan reports 11% growth in rental revenues for 2023, to 184 million euros, exceeding its initial target of 182 million for the year, updated to 183 million at the time of the half-year results.

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