Paris (AFP)

The Paris Stock Exchange resumed nervousness Thursday (-0.87%) before the speech of the boss of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell, while the ECB gave hope to the market on a plan of measures to combat the economic slowdown .

The CAC 40 index lost 47.23 points to finish at 5,388.25 points, in a trade volume low of 2.9 billion euros. The day before, he had gained 1.70%.

After opening slightly lower, the Paris rating has accelerated its decline when the minutes of the European Central Bank (ECB).

"We thought we had a lull but we are back in excess of volatility.The nervousness has taken over" in a session marked by little volume, told AFP Thierry Claudé, manager at Kiplink Finance.

"What will be the speech of Mr. Powell? The vagueness persists", and "maybe some investors anticipate a half-hearted speech and sell their positions before," says the specialist.

The intervention of the boss of the Fed is scheduled Friday at 14H00 GMT in Jackson Hole in Wyoming, in front of the elite of central bankers and economists.

The next monetary meeting of the US Central Bank is scheduled for September 17 and 18, and the markets are expecting a further decline in interest rates.

The governors of the European Central Bank have for their part recognized that the economic slowdown could be more serious than expected and are wondering about the shape that could take their stimulus package, according to a report released Thursday.

The ECB now refers to "general doubts about the second half" of 2019, in terms of a recovery in growth and inflation.

"The decline in the market has been accentuated by the low volume and despite some good news," says Claudé.

Growth in private activity in the euro area thus rose in August, reaching its highest level in two months, but "at a sluggish pace", while the French manufacturing PMI performed better than expected.

On the Brexit, Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron posted a more conciliatory tone on Thursday, saying they want to reach an agreement for an orderly exit from the UK's EU, and considering it possible to agree on the Irish border.

Italy embarked Thursday in a second round of consultations to seek a solution to the crisis triggered by the explosion of the populist government formed by the League of Matteo Salvini and the Movement 5 Stars in June 2018. The latter said ready to negotiate for "a solid majority" in parliament.

© 2019 AFP