Paris (AFP)

The Paris Stock Exchange lost ground (-0.65%) Thursday, for the fourth consecutive session, still concerned by the spread of a new virus in China which has infected more than 570 people and resulted in the confinement of several cities of the country.

The CAC 40 index fell 39.1 points to 5,971.79 points, in a limited trading volume of around 3.9 billion euros. The day before, it had finished down 0.58%.

"The market amplifies its decline compared to yesterday but it remains in moderate amplitudes, there is no panic when we felt that the Asian places were much more feverish this morning," stressed to the AFP Daniel Larrouturou, equity manager at Dôm Finance.

Investors were indeed concerned about the spread of the virus in China, where authorities confined millions of residents on Thursday to several cities, including that of Wuhan (center), epicenter of the epidemic, on the eve of the long leave Chinese New Year.

The virus has infected more than 570 people since December and left 17 dead, according to a latest report. All the deceased died in Wuhan or its province, Hubei.

"The Wuhan region is very industrial", so the virus, if it were to spread on a large scale, "is likely to have an impact on Chinese growth, and already has consequences for a certain number of related titles luxury and air transportation, "said Larrouturou.

Opting as expected for the status quo for its first meeting of the year, the European Central Bank (ECB) for its part was slightly more optimistic about the economic situation in the euro area due in particular to the Sino trade agreement -American. The Frankfurt institution has also launched the first review of its strategy in 17 years, to adjust its objectives and integrate climate protection into its instruments.

"The only thing the markets were waiting for was specific measures in favor of the banks, but nothing having been reported (in this sense by the ECB), the bank securities started a little lower," noted Mr. Larrouturou.

- Renault in turmoil -

Luxury was again affected by the latest information on the spread of the virus from China, as were air transport and the hotel industry.

LVMH lost 2.72% to 411.95 euros, Kering 3.17% to 573.40 euros and Hermes 0.98% to 704.20 euros.

Air France fell 2.47% to 8.99 euros, ADP 3.05% to 171.60 euros and Accor 2.23% to 37.73 euros.

STMicroelectronics finished at the top of the index with a jump of 6.47% to 27.00 euros, investors hailing the recovery in the last quarter, which exceeds their forecasts, and putting aside the difficult performance across the board fiscal year 2019 which was expected.

Renault was penalized (-5.06% to 36.99 euros) by lowering its recommendation to "sell" by Citi.

© 2020 AFP