Paris (AFP)

The Paris Stock Exchange anchored at equilibrium (-0.02%) Thursday at midday, investors limiting movements pending news of the virus in China and the outcome of a meeting of the European Central Bank.

At 13:29 (08:22 GMT), the CAC 40 index lost 1.23 points to 6,009.75 points. The day before, it had finished down 0.58%.

The Parisian coast opened slightly in the red before coming to settle in equilibrium.

Wall Street was preparing for its part to open without much movement either. The futures contract for the Dow Jones Industrial Average index fell by 0.10%, that of the broad S&P 500 index by 0.03% and that of the Nasdaq, with a strong technological coloring by 0.02%.

"Fears over the Chinese virus, whose balance sheet has been revised up to 17 dead, are starting to be taken seriously by investors and are the main subject for the financial markets," said Franklin Pichard, chief executive officer of Kiplink Finance .

After mistreating the Asian stock markets, the Chinese coronavirus "also contributes to lowering oil" and is still putting pressure on luxury groups, "in fear of a sharp decline in trade if China steps up measures to contain the spread virus, "also said Tangi Le Liboux, a strategist with broker Aurel BGC.

A second city in China was to be placed in de facto quarantine on Thursday in order to stem the epidemic linked to a new coronavirus which has already led to a similar measure in the metropolis of Wuhan (center).

- STMicroelectronics bond -

The major Asian stock markets severely relapsed Thursday after this first drastic measure which aims to stop this new virus, resembling SARS which has already killed 17 people in China, infected hundreds of people and reached the United States, where one patient has been identified.

Investors were also awaiting a meeting of the ECB which was not to be the occasion for new monetary measures, but the institution should deliver clues to the reshuffle of its strategy, a major work in progress. year, and alleviate its pessimism about economic risks. In fact, the institution left its key rates at the lowest Thursday noon.

In the field of values, STMicroelectronics took the lead in the index with an 8% jump to 27.39 euros, investors hailing the recovery in the last quarter which exceeds their forecasts, and putting aside the difficult performance overall of the 2019 financial year that was expected.

Luxury was again affected by the latest information on the spread of the virus from China. LVMH lost 1.25% to 418.15 euros, Kering 2.45% to 577.70 euros and Hermès 0.65% to 706.60 euros.

The oil sector was also weakened by the drop in crude prices, to the lowest since December, like TechnipFMC (-1.43% to 16.86 euros) and Total (-0.39% to 47.62 euros).

Renault was penalized (-4.04% to 37.38 euros) by lowering its recommendation to "sell" by Citi.

© 2020 AFP