Paris (AFP)

The Paris Bourse was slightly down 0.29% Thursday at mid-session, held back by health uncertainties and by the appreciation of the euro against the dollar.

The CAC 40 index fell 16.20 points to 5,566.81 points around 1:25 p.m.

The day before, he had gleaned 0.02%.

The European markets were moving in the same trend, although London, like Wednesday, performed better, with an increase of 0.13%.

Frankfurt lost 0.33%.

US markets futures were moving around equilibrium, with the Dow Jones falling 0.05% and the broader S&P 500 index by 0.01%.

"Delays in approving the launch of a vaccine for European Union countries are cause for concern. It is hard to believe that in a health emergency, European leaders could procrastinate on approving the vaccine. 'a vaccine ", while the British health authority on Wednesday approved that of Pfizer and BioNtech laboratories, said Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets.

Another weight for the continental markets, the euro was still evolving at high levels.

By mid-morning, it was still trading at 1.2112 dollars to the euro, close to its highest in a year and a half.

In the morning, investors also learned that the plunge in activity in services in France was somewhat weaker than initially expected.

The markets are waiting for new stimuli to resume their march forward.

Those of central banks are to be announced in the coming weeks.

Doubts still remain on the budgetary side.

"Within the members of the European Union and the United States Senate, the degree of cooperation remains uncertain to this day. As the exceptional circumstances recede, historical proponents of fiscal temperance will once again argue their case. arguments, ”note Carmignac analysts.

Especially in the US Congress, no plan has yet been validated since this summer, despite an economic situation which has continued to deteriorate with the resumption of the epidemic.

Oil companies under pressure

Investors were monitoring the meeting of OPEC and its OPEC + allies to agree on the very short-term future of their policy of cutting their production of black gold.

Scheduled for Tuesday, it was postponed, which for many observers betrays the strong dissensions within the group.

BP lost 1.33% to 264 pence and Royal Dutch Shell ("B" share) 0.30% to 1,350 pence.

In France, Total fell 1.31% to 36.23 euros.

Banks are on the decline

In Frankfurt, bank stocks are a little neglected, such as Deutsche Bank (-0.15% to 9.52 euros) and its runner-up Commerzbank (-0.98% to 5.45 euros): the president of the German financial supervisor Bafin Felix Hufeld considers in the business daily Handelsblatt that although the financial system is stable despite the crisis, the weaker banks are still at risk of default.

© 2020 AFP