Stock market indices are resolutely rising on Thursday, near records, despite uncertainties surrounding new talks between the United States and Iran.
“Stocks are close to new all-time highs – and the rally shows no signs of slowing,” summarizes the Wall Street Journal in New York.
The three American indices should open higher at 1:30 p.m. GMT, according to futures contracts at 12:00 p.m. GMT: S&P 500 (+0.11%), Nasdaq (+0.20%) and Dow Jones (+0.17%).
On Wednesday, the S&P 500 (7,022.95 points, +1.18%) and the Nasdaq (+1.59% to 24,016.02 points) reached new highs, a sign of the risk appetite of investors who continue to buy securities despite geopolitical uncertainties.
“The context is favorable for the markets thanks to three recent good news stories. The ceasefire still holds in the Middle East, British GDP figures created a positive surprise just before the start of the war, and the S&P 500 set a new all-time high on Wednesday,” summarizes Kathleen Brooks, research director for XTB.
"Although the war in Iran is becoming a secondary concern for investors, negative headlines suggesting that the end of the conflict is not imminent can still influence price developments," warns the analyst.
In Europe too, the main stock exchanges seem to be more interested in company results for the first quarter than in the twists and turns of secret diplomacy between Washington and Tehran via Pakistan.
In Paris at 11:45 a.m., the CAC 40 rose 0.51%. The performance of industrial stocks (Dassault +2.52%, Saint-Gobain +2.44%, Airbus +2.19%) offset the persistent difficulties of luxury heavyweights.
Milan (+0.39%) and Frankfurt (+0.65%) progressed as did London (+0.73%), driven by the surprise rebound in GDP in the United Kingdom in February (+0.5%).
In addition to good or sectoral news, the markets obviously continue to listen attentively to the latest developments in the conflict launched by Donald Trump against Iran at the end of February.
Pakistan's influential army chief, Asim Munir, spoke Thursday with the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to Iranian state media, as part of mediation for a possible resumption of Iranian-American talks.
- Oil stabilizes -
“Peace is +valued+ (integrated into the market price) but not signed,” summarized fund manager Aurel in his daily note to investors.
“If the markets are betting on a resumption of diplomatic dialogue, Iranian threats to block strategic routes maintain a risk premium,” adds Aurel.
Indicator of market mood in times of conflict in the Middle East, oil is stabilizing at high levels which do not dissipate
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