After breaking the 4000 point mark, the CAC 40 is struggling to find a direction Thursday. The index initially opened higher and then came back in the red, losing 0.09% to 4020.80 points.
At the London Stock Exchange, the FTSE-100 gained 0.41% to 5972.44 points and the Dax index featuring the Frankfurt Stock Exchange climbed 0.16% to 7068.29 points.
On the macroeconomic front, several indicators are planned, including price indices for production and import of industry (8.45) and indices of agricultural prices in February (12:00). After the Minister of Budget, Baroin, announced Wednesday a government deficit of 7.2% in 2010, the Minister of Economy and Finance, Christine Lagarde, sees even less than 7% on Thursday. INSEE reveal the exact figure at 8.45.
For the EU, a first estimate of inflation in March is expected at 11:00.United States, are scheduled weekly claims for unemployment benefits (1430), activity in the Chicago area in March (15.45) and in February industrial orders (16 hours).
On the currency markets, the euro continues to rise against the dollar at 1.4154 (+0.20%).
The debt crisis in the European program
Oil prices were up Thursday morning in electronic trading in Asia in the wake of the rebound on Wall Street, analysts said. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery gained 28 cents to 104.55 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for May delivery took 20 cents to 115.33 dollars.
The eyes of investors will also be turned on Thursday to Ireland will be published when the stress tests of banks in the late afternoon.The debt crisis is again in the spotlight, while the Portuguese rate exceeds 8% and that the Greek deficit was revised upwards.
Meanwhile, the banking sector shows the highest increases in the Cac 40: 2.09% Societe Generale loose at 46.49 euros, Credit Agricole sells 1.92% to 11.78 euros, BNP Paribas lost 1.58% at 52 , 46 euros and Natixis was down 1.06% to 4.02 euros.
In contrast, Renault, despite its setbacks in the false case of espionage, climbing from 1.64% to 39.36 euros, the largest increase in the Cac 40.Total (0.91% to 43.31 euros) and Vallourec (+0.44% at 79.85 euros) complete the podium.
LVMH: -0.04% to 111.60 euros
In addition, the Annual General Meeting of LVMH will be held at 10:30.
Poweo: -2.33% to 4.61 euros
With a loss of 146.2 million euros in 2010 against a loss of 85.3 million in 2009, operating income of Poweo was sealed by non-recurring items, as announced in February. The net loss attributable to group Poweo has for his part amounted to 133.4 million euros, against a loss of 93.5 million in 2009.
After-hours trading, Cellectis Genoway publish their annual results.
Renault: 1.64% to 39.36 euros
Nissan and Renault were heading towards the establishment of a holding company which unites the two car manufacturers under one roof, said Carlos Ghosn, president of both groups, in an interview published by the Nikkei newspaper.But a spokesman for Nissan denies this morning, stating that this article resulted from a misinterpretation of what the CEO.
L'Oreal: -0.06% to 82.99 euros
YSL Beauté (L'Oréal) will cease in advance to create and develop the flavors of the Italian luxury group Ermenegildo Zegna, according to a statement released Thursday.The license agreement, which was to expire in April 2013, ending June 30, said the world number one cosmetics.
Publicis: -0.36% to 39.86 euros
Publicis announced that Jean-Yves Naouri, tipped as a possible successor to current chairman Maurice Levy, was appointed executive chairman of Publicis Worldwide, a subsidiary of the group including its network of marketing and advertising.
Schneider Electric: -0.17% to 120.40 euros
The electrical equipment manufacturer Schneider Electric announced Thursday the acquisition of assets of DigiLink, the "leading provider of structured cabling in India", about 80 million.
Areva: Trading suspended
The Strategic Investment Fund announced in a statement Thursday it has completed the acquisition of the stake in Areva STMicroelectronics.The nuclear expert held 10.9% stake in the OEM electronics.
Maurel & Prom: -0.04% to EUR 13.61
The independent oil company Maurel & Prom will ally with the Colombian Pacific Rubiales Energy by assigning half of his rights in a series of permits.
Trigano: 1.44% to 24.25 euros
The specialist for caravans and motorhomes Trigano announced a six-monthly sales growth should, in his view, lead to market share gains and improved "sensitive" in its results for first half of the year.
Saft: -0.67% to 29.09 euros
The battery maker Saft has announced in a statement that only one of components it buys in Japan is produced in the region of the country affected by the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March.