Paris (AFP)

The Paris Stock Exchange was still down Tuesday at midday (-0.74%), remaining affected by the fears aroused by the spread of a new virus in China.

At 1:41 p.m. (12:41 p.m. GMT) the CAC 40 index lost 45.05 points to 6,033.49 points, in a trading volume of 1.2 billion euros. The day before, it had finished down 0.36%.

The Parisian rating started in decline and accentuated its losses during the morning

Wall Street was preparing for its part to open in slight decline. 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%.

"Risk aversion returns with Chinese coronavirus, reminiscent of the 2003 SARS epidemic. The risk of contagion is all the higher as millions of Chinese plan to travel for the New Year. lunar, "said Franklin Pichard, managing director of Kiplink Finance.

Many Asian countries on Tuesday tightened controls on the spread of the new SARS-like virus, which has already killed six people in China and raised fears of a global health crisis.

Investors were also following the Davos Economic Forum where US President Donald Trump castigated the climate "doomsayers" before the eyes of young activist Greta Thunberg.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) for its part maintained its ultra-accommodative monetary policy on Tuesday, a decision without surprise in view of growth prospects certainly raised but inflation forecasts lowered and still very far from its target of 2 %.

In terms of indicators, the ZEW barometer of confidence in the financial community improved again in January to reach its highest level since July 2015.

- Luxury in decline -

The luxury sector was the first affected by the fears aroused in Asia, both by the virus in China and the downgrade of the Hong Kong rating. LVMH lost 2.49% to 419.05 euros, Hermès 1.87% to 703.60 euros and Kering 3.07% to 580.60 euros.

The raw materials sector was also badly oriented, ArcelorMittal falling by 1.44% to 14.39 euros and Eramet by 1.38% to 43.67 euros.

© 2020 AFP