(Paris) The Paris Bourse broke its all-time high on Tuesday at 7181.11 points, overcoming fears related to the spread of the Omicron variant.
The flagship CAC 40 index, which had already risen 0.76% on Monday, gained 0.57% to 7181.11 points in weak trading volume.
During the session, he climbed to 7187.76 points, a level also unprecedented.
His previous records in session (7183.08 points) and at the close (7156.85 points) dated from mid-November.
With the holiday season, “most of the players have left the market, there is very little active asset management. The indices no longer have any barrier to their progression, and let themselves be carried away, ”summed up AFP Nicolas Chéron, strategist for Zonebourse, stressing that December is usually the second of the best months of the year.
The “two fears” which shook the markets at the beginning of December have subsided: “the US Federal Reserve reassured that it was taking operations in hand” concerning inflation and “the news on Omicron has been more reassuring” since several days, detailed the analyst.
British studies last week showed infections with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 are less likely to cause hospitalizations, compared to the Delta variant.
In addition, the restrictive measures put in place by governments to deal with the explosion of contaminations block economic activity less than the containments imposed at the start of the pandemic.
In France, the government has decided in particular to make teleworking “compulsory” three days a week for positions which allow it, to ban standing concerts and to ban standing consumption in bars.
The isolation rules for patients and contact cases will also be “adjusted” by the end of the week to avoid paralysis of the country.
“The markets are looking after COVID-19, projecting themselves into 2022,” said Mr. Chéron. “However, this will be a year in line with the major rebound of 2021: global GDP should grow faster than the average of the last 20 years, even if less than in 2021”, which will have repercussions on the results of companies , he added.
Access to COVID-19 tests facilitated in France, Carrefour is making progress
The Carrefour share gained 1.08% to 15.92 euros, after the publication of a decree in the Official Journal authorizing large-scale distribution to sell “on an exceptional basis and until January 31, 2022” self-tests to detect COVID -19.
The automobile resists
Auto stocks got off to a good start, but slowed down during the session. Stellantis nibbled 0.17% to 16.83 euros, while Renault finally dropped 0.41% to 30.05 euros. Equipment manufacturers Plastic Omnium (+ 0.53% to 22.94 euros) and Faurecia (+ 0.36% to 41.40 euros) also increased.