Paris (AFP)

The Paris Bourse slowed down on Tuesday at mid-session, but remained optimistic (+ 0.20%) about the economic recovery and reassured by the words of an executive of the US central bank.

At 12:15 p.m., the CAC 40 index took 12.05 points to 6,379.46 points, after reaching a session high since November 2000 at 6,412.91 points.

Monday, the Parisian rating had ended slightly down 0.28%.

"The stock markets evolved upwards everywhere in Europe Tuesday, in a context of renewed optimism with regard to the economic recovery with the reopening of many countries", notes Pierre Veyret, analyst for ActivTrades.

Investors welcomed the words of Richard Clarida, vice-president of the US Federal Reserve (Fed), who assured Monday evening that he still expected inflation that would be temporary, and not sustainable.

And this, despite an acceleration in April that panicked the markets last week.

"Investors are ready to seize any opportunity to buy shares on the downside after these words from the Fed and before the extremely busy day tomorrow," continued Mr. Veyret.

On Wednesday, the minutes of the last monetary policy meeting of the US central bank will be released.

Before that, the markets will scrutinize early Tuesday afternoon the publication of a second estimate of GDP of the euro area.

In the European Parliament, a vote will be held in the middle of the day on the European Union's recovery plan.

In terms of health, restaurant and bar terraces, shops, cinemas and museums will reopen their doors on Wednesday in France, after six months of restrictions and a winter dominated by a deadly Covid.

More than 200 million doses of anti-Covid vaccines have been administered in the European Union, according to a count made by AFP on Tuesday, and nearly 53 million Europeans are now fully vaccinated.

TF1 and M6 merge

Bouygues (-1.40% to 33.81 euros) will spend 641 million euros to seal a "merger" of its subsidiary TF1 (+ 6.88% to 8.93 euros) and M6 (+3.31 % to 18.08 euros) which would thus form a French media giant.

Stellantis finds a partner

The automobile group, resulting from the merger of Peugeot-Citroën and Fiat-Chrysler, and the Taiwanese giant of the manufacture of electronic products Foxconn are to announce Tuesday, at the end of the morning, a "strategic partnership".

In the meantime, the Stellantis title rose 1.51% to 15.32 euros.

Engie is stepping up on renewables

The energy giant jumped 3.98% to 13.22 euros, after unveiling a strategy focused on the growth of energy solutions and renewables.

It also provides for 9 to 10 billion euros in disposals over 2021-2023, and growth investments of 15 to 16 billion euros.

Vivendi on the rise

The French media giant has clarified its intentions regarding its subsidiary Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading major, which it intends to list in Amsterdam by September 27.

Vivendi (+ 2.09% to 29.75 euros) could sell an additional 5 to 10% of the capital.

Change of mind at Scor

The CEO of reinsurer Denis Kessler, in office since 2002, will step down as CEO at the end of the general meeting in June, a year earlier than expected.

Scor took 3.90% to 28.51 euros.

Iliad sanctioned

The Iliad group, parent company of operator Free, saw its turnover jump 33.6% in the first quarter, but at a level slightly below analysts' estimates.

The title fell 9.02% to 138.30 euros.

OSE wanted

The French biotech OSE Immunotherapeutics rose 3.30% to 11.90 euros, after announcing the obtaining of new public funding of 10.7 million euros to develop its anti-Covid vaccine, the first clinical trials of which have started recently.

© 2021 AFP