Paris (AFP)

The Paris Stock Exchange paused at midday on Monday (-0.27%) in the absence of both macroeconomic news and American investors on the markets due to a public holiday in the United States.

At 1:45 p.m. (12:45 p.m. GMT), the index lost 16.4 points to 6,084.30 points. Friday, it had ended up sharply (+ 1.02%).

The Parisian rating has remained in slight decline since the opening.

Wall Street was preparing for its part to open without change. The futures contract on the Dow Jones Industrial Average index yielded 0.01%, the broad S&P 500 index 0.06% and the Nasdaq, with a strong technological coloring 0.05%.

"European markets are marginally down due to the absence of major economic news likely to arouse investor interest. Stocks were in a strong position last week and a slight decline does not therefore come as a big surprise," notes. David Madden, analyst for CMC Markets.

The stock markets had displayed an optimism overflowing Friday after reassuring Chinese and American statistics, in particular concerning the industrial production in China which started again with the rise last month to 6.9% on a year but also the real estate in the United States.

"The session in Europe tends to be calm as volumes and volatility are low due to a holiday in the United States," said Madden.

US markets were closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Day.

"Besides the lack of American investors on the markets, the calmer tone of today is also explained by the fact that European operators have digested the signing of the initial trade agreement as well as the recent series of reassuring data. from the United States and China, "observes Pierre Veyret, analyst at ActivTrades.

In this context of slackening, oil prices were up on Monday during European trade, carried by the risks weighing on the world supply of black gold following the blocking of the main oil terminals in the east of the territory Libyan.

Investors will continue to analyze the results of companies this week and scrutinize on Thursday the intervention of Christine Lagarde who should clarify the contours of her strategic review of monetary policy as part of the first meeting of the European Central Bank in 2020.

- Air France-KLM accuses the blow -

Air France-KLM (-4.79% to 9.42 euros) recorded the largest drop in the SBF 120 index after a lowering of recommendation to "neutral" by Davy Research, which estimates that the restructuring initiated by the group will weigh on short-term results.

Airbus benefited (+ 0.73% to 137.78 euros) from an agreement with the aircraft rental company China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) for the acquisition of 40 additional A321neo aircraft, with a value of at least $ 5.2 billion at list prices.

Total benefited (+ 0.41% to 48.71 euros) for its part of the announcement of the signing with Qatar of an agreement of 470 million dollars for the construction of its first solar power plant by a joint venture including the French giant Energy.

Marie Brizard Wine and Spirits (MBWS) took 1.25% to 1.62 euro, driven by the announcement of a cash advance received from its majority shareholder Cofepp and provided for in an agreement concluded at the end of 2019 to meet its liquidity needs .

Among the values ​​in the red, Lagardère fell 1.59% to 19.21 euros, penalized by a drop in recommendation on the title by Goldman Sachs to "neutral" against "buy".

Legrand (-0.84% ​​to 73.18 euros) also suffered from a drop in recommendation by Deutsche Bank to "keep" against "buy".

Vinci crumbled from 0.20% to 102.20 euros even though its airport management subsidiary Vinci Airports welcomed last year 255 million passengers, a figure up 5.7%, at the airports it operates in 12 countries.

© 2020 AFP