Paris (France) (AFP) – The Paris Stock Exchange, like other world markets, gives free rein to its taste for risk and gain on Wednesday with hopes of détente in the Middle East.

Published on: 06/05/2026 - 08:39 Modified on: 06/05/2026 - 10:41

At 10:00 a.m., the CAC 40 index increased by 124.23 points (+1.54%), to 8,186.32 points. Investors had already shown optimism on Tuesday, the Parisian market having closed up 86.19 points (+1.08%), at 8,062.31 points.

The markets are, as always, hanging on the lips of the American president. Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the suspension of his "Freedom Project" to escort ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while he sees if "an agreement could be finalized and signed" with Iran.

These comments immediately led to a decline in oil prices, the market compass and vector of inflation risks.

At 10:00 a.m. Paris time, Brent from the North Sea, the benchmark for crude in Europe, fell sharply (-3.46%) to 106.07 dollars per barrel. Its American equivalent, WTI, fell just as clearly below the $100 threshold (-4.09% to $98.09).

“The relative relaxation of energy prices has allowed investors to take back some risk, even though the geopolitical situation remains extremely complex, between limited strikes, contradictory messages and attempts to maintain a fragile ceasefire,” observes analyst John Plassard in his daily note for Cité Gestion Private Bank.

“On a sectoral level, technology has regained leadership, with stocks like Intel or Amazon supported by strategic announcements, illustrating that the theme of AI remains dominant as soon as the geopolitical noise calms down slightly,” he adds.

In Asia, the Kospi took off in Seoul, ending up 6.45%, in a market driven by technology stocks.

The South Korean giant Samsung has entered the club of market capitalizations exceeding $1,000 billion, a club inaugurated in 2018 by the American group Apple.

A dozen companies now belong to this closed circle, including the American giant Nvidia, the world's largest capitalization.

Veolia, the wind in its sails

However, the Franco-Italian semiconductor champion STMicroelectronics suffered a technical correction on Wednesday (-1.16% to 48.24 euros per share) after weeks of regular rise.

The title of the French group Veolia (+0.53%, 74.37 euros) only progressed moderately after the company, world leader in environmental services, published a turnover up slightly by 1% in the first quarter over a year.

At the heart of a political controversy due to its superprofits, the French oil giant TotalEnergies fell (-1.97%, 77.74 euros), as with every drop in oil prices.

© 2026 AFP

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