Paris (AFP)

Driven by the results of Société Générale and Stellantis, the Paris Bourse ended up 0.72% on Tuesday, continuing its rise from the previous day which brought it to its highest level since the start of the year .

The flagship CAC 40 index gained 47.91 points to 6,723.81 points.

It reached 6,749.88 points in the middle of the day, a session high since September 11, 2000. The day before, it had risen significantly by 0.95%.

Recording a better performance than its European neighbors, Paris was "driven by the results of companies of its rating", notes Pierre Bismuth, Managing Director of Myria AM, who adds that the limited presence "of securities exposed to China or to the global conditions "worked in favor of the index.

Elsewhere, concerns about the spread of the Delta variant, which could threaten the economic recovery, have indeed weighed on the markets.

In China, the Delta variant is spreading across the country, creating an epidemic rebound that is now affecting dozens of cities.

Investors are also worried that further regulatory tightening will affect China's video game industry, after a tightening of the screw last week against private education and meal delivery.

In this context, "the values ​​of tech are down globally in Europe", notes Pierre Bismuth.

Societe Generale in great shape

The Societe Generale share was posted at the top of the CAC 40 and jumped 6.37% to 26.45 euros.

The banking group has raised its revenue forecast for 2021 after posting a net profit of 1.44 billion euros in the second quarter, its best performance since 2016.

Record margin for Stellantis

The automotive group Stellantis generated a margin equivalent to 11.4% of sales in the first half.

Its share rose 4.10% to 17.05 euros.

Tech at the bottom of the table

Regulatory tightening in China and fears about future growth weighed on technology stocks.

Atos finished at the bottom of the CAC 40, losing 2.83% to 39.42 euros.

Safran (-1.78% to 109.50 euros), Airbus (-1.71% to 114.78 euros) and Alstom (-1.39% to 34.67 euros) also fell.

Sanofi invests in messenger RNA

The pharmaceutical giant Sanofi (-0.35% to 86.45 euros) announced the purchase for 3.2 billion dollars of the American Translate Bio, specialist in messenger RNA, an innovative technology used in particular in vaccines anti-Covid 19.

Bonduelle less optimistic

The Bonduelle group, whose stock fell 1.66% to 20.75 euros, forecasts an erosion of its profitability at the end of a year marked by the health crisis, erratic restaurant activity, or even unfavorable exchange rates.

© 2021 AFP