Paris (AFP)

The Paris Bourse gained 0.26% on Thursday, continuing its rebound that began on Tuesday, but was nevertheless slowed down by an unexpected increase in the number of unemployed in the United States.

The flagship CAC 40 index rose 17.11 points to 6,481.59 points, while it spent a good part of the session above the threshold of 6,500 points.

The day before, it had finished up 1.85%.

Weekly jobless claims rose unexpectedly in the United States, after a small drop the previous week, signaling that the labor market remains fragile despite the economic recovery well underway but now under threat from the Delta variant.

The situation "will become problematic if companies begin to need to increase salaries to recruit", analysis with AFP Waldemar Brun-Theremin, manager at Turgot Asset Management.

Another event of the day, the European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed the expansive course of its monetary policy, in line with the recent revision of its inflation target.

For Mr. Brun-Theremin, the ECB is "even more dove", that is to say accommodating, "than the Fed", the American Central Bank.

It "is a little less under pressure than the United States vis-à-vis inflation," he explains.

"The recovery of the euro area economy is on track," said ECB President Christine Lagarde.

"But the pandemic continues to cast a shadow, especially as the Delta variant constitutes a growing source of uncertainty," she warned.

The rise in contamination, due to this variant, could, according to her, slow down the recovery "in services, especially in tourism and hotels".

Heavy fine for Luxottica

EssilorLuxottica was not affected (+ 1.08% to 153.56 euros) by the fine of more than 125 million euros imposed by the Competition Authority on the Italian Luxottica, the world's leading eyewear supplier , for having "imposed" in France, "on opticians, retail prices and for having prohibited them from selling on the internet".

Ipsos leaves the pandemic behind

The French research and polling specialist Ipsos gained 3.97% to 38.00 euros, benefiting from a sharp rebound in net profit in the first half of the year.

Publicis carried by the United States

The advertising giant Publicis rose 0.26% to 54.18 euros after revising its outlook for 2021 upwards, expecting to return to its pre-pandemic levels as early as this year, thanks to its growth in the United States. United.

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