After five consecutive sessions of gains, the Paris stock market is back on top: this morning, it climbed 0.75% to 8248 points, just one hair shy of its all-time record (8253 points).

The Paris index was driven in particular by Legrand (+3.1%) and Societe Generale (+2%), despite completely derisory volumes, with less than 400 ME traded since the opening.

With the world's stock markets hovering close to their all-time highs, investors will be keeping a close eye on economic indicators over the next few days.

They will be looking for further clues as to the timing of the next rate cuts, in both the US and Europe, and to assess the chances of a continued rally in equities.

This afternoon, investors will be watching the US consumer confidence index compiled by the University of Michigan, which will provide further insight into the current mood of households across the Atlantic.

Yields on US Treasuries are down slightly, at 4.44% for the ten-year and 4.81% for the two-year, showing little change for the week as a whole.

The two- to ten-year segment of the yield curve remains inverted, a signal generally considered to indicate a coming recession.

In Europe, the Bund is down 3.5 pts, to 2.46%, as markets anticipate a 25 basis point easing in European Central Bank (ECB) rates next month.

Brent crude is down 0.1%, to $84/barrel, while the ounce of gold is up 2.6%, to $2370/oz.

In French company news, Sanofi announces the conclusion of a co-exclusive licensing agreement with Novavax, for the co-commercialization of a Covid-19 vaccine and the development of combined influenza-Covid-19 vaccines, as well as the acquisition of a minority stake of less than 5% in Novavax.

Viel & Cie posted consolidated sales growth of 3% (+5.2% at constant exchange rates) to 299 million euros for the first quarter of 2024, compared with the same period last year.

Lastly, Renault will today present the first running prototype of its hydrogen-powered Alpine Alpenglow Hy4 on the Spa Francorchamps circuit (Belgium).

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