In Europe, Paris increased by 0.59%, Frankfurt by 0.62% and Milan gained 0.45%, while London closed close to balance, at -0.05%. In Zurich, the SMI rises by 1.19%.
Global stock markets are facing uncertainties over Donald Trump’s economic policy, with Europe clinging to the prospects of less severe customs duty increases than expected.
On the Old Continent, the Paris Stock Exchange gained 0.59%, Frankfurt 0.62%, Milan +0.45%, while London closed close to balance, at -0.05%. In Zurich, the SMI increased by 1.19%.
On Wall Street, the Dow Jones gained 0.05%, the broader S&P 500 index lost 0.47% and the Nasdaq index fell by 1.14% around 4:45 p.m. GMT.
The mood is “more positive” in Europe, says Charlotte de Montpellier, economist at ING.
The inflation rate in the euro zone in December published Tuesday by Eurostat increased by 0.2 points, to 2.4% over one year, continuing its rebound that began in October.
“Inflation in the euro zone has been perfectly [conforme aux] expectations” of the markets, notes Christophe Boucher, investment director of ABN AMRO Investment Solutions.
European stock markets also benefited a little from the “euphoria on the markets” caused on Monday by information from the Washington Post according to which Donald Trump is considering a more limited increase in customs duties than expected.
According to the American newspaper, the teams of the Republican president-elect are planning increases in customs duties for all countries but limited to certain sensitive sectors, for example linked to national security, which would be a softening compared to Mr. Trump’s declarations. during his campaign.
“It’s false,” however, denied the president-elect on his Truth Social network.
The trend remains “rather favorable to the European stock markets” but “can be reversed” just as quickly, warns Ms. de Montpellier, recalling that “Trump is by definition a factor of volatility on the stock markets” which should evolve depending on rumors about his economic policy and denials.
In New York, investors are more cautious in the face of uncertainties.
The PMI index from the ISM institute, however, highlighted a rebound in activity in the services sector in December.
“The fact of having data which remains positive on economic activity but with inflation which is resisting raises the question of whether the Fed (American Federal Reserve, editor’s note) will be able to continue to lower rates”, estimates Charlotte of Montpellier.
The economist also insists on the fact that expectations of Fed rate cuts have collapsed “since October-November” with the “high probability of victory for Donald Trump in the presidential election”.
Enough to push up the American 10-year rate. It stood at 4.68% at 4:45 p.m. GMT compared to 4.63% at Monday’s close.
On the currency side, the greenback gained 0.14% against the euro, to 1.0375 dollars around 4:45 p.m. GMT.
This week, the markets’ attention will turn to the highly anticipated December employment report in the United States on Friday.
“This is a key indicator for assessing the Fed’s interest rate trajectory for 2025,” comments Patrick Munnelly, analyst at Tickmill Group.
Meta met fin au fact-checking
Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) will end its fact-checking program in the United States, a major setback in its content moderation policy, its founder and boss Mark Zuckerberg announced on Tuesday.
The group’s shares lost 1.84% in New York around 4:45 p.m. GMT.
Wedding from photo agencies
The Getty Images agency (+22.96% in New York around 4:45 p.m. GMT) and the Shutterstock image bank (+20.17%) were propelled after the announcement of their merger to create a giant in the visual content sector .
With this operation, the companies intend to achieve savings of around $150 to $200 million over three years after the merger is finalized. The company will be valued at approximately $3.7 billion, according to the release.
Oil is holding steady
Oil prices rose slightly, driven by fears over supplies from Russia and Iran, but tempered by uncertainties over the OPEC+ strategy and doubts over Chinese recovery.
Around 4:45 p.m. GMT, the price of a barrel of Brent from the North Sea gained 0.55% to $76.72, when its American equivalent, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate, gained 0.48% to $73.92.
Bitcoin fell 3.40% to $98,203.
