European stock markets are showing particular hesitancy. The CAC 40 loses 0.41% to 8,193 points, while the Euro Stoxx 50 gains 0.04% to 5,897 points. London drops 0.33% while the DAX 40 advances by 0.14%.
Geopolitically, there is a prevailing feeling of deadlock. After extending the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran indefinitely, Donald Trump announced an additional three-week truce between Israel and Lebanon yesterday.
This morning, the price of Brent crude oil is up by 1.07% to $107.09.
In this tense context, French households’ confidence continues to deteriorate. Weakened by the war in the Middle East, it has reached its lowest level since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, according to Insee. The indicator dropped by 5 points in April to 84, after declining to 89 the previous month, moving further away from its long-term average (100 between January 1987 and December 2025). This is its lowest level since May 2023.
In Germany, business sentiment also deteriorated more than expected in April, amid persistent tensions related to the conflict in Iran, according to the monthly survey from the Ifo institute. The index stands at 84.4, down from 86.3 in March (revised from an initial estimate of 88.6), while economists had expected an average of 86.6. This is its lowest level since May 2020, during the peak of the health crisis.
Market participants will monitor the University of Michigan’s consumer confidence index at 4:00 PM.
Moving values: – Bureau Veritas (+1.99%) and TotalEnergies (+1.44%) dominate the CAC 40, while Renault (-3.24%) holds the second-to-last position in the main Parisian index. The automaker is headed for a fifth consecutive session of declines. Forvia (-4.78%) and Valeo (-4.60%) are also under pressure after recording a decline in their activity in the first quarter. – Additionally, Spie (+7.13%) shines at the top of the SBF 120 index, with the electrical and mechanical engineering specialist experiencing a less pronounced production decline than anticipated over the period. Seb (+5.48%) follows closely, reporting a 42% increase in operating income to 72 million euros. On the Stockholm Stock Exchange, Electrolux (-23%) is heavily penalized after a disappointing quarter.
In the foreign exchange market, the euro slightly edges up by 0.02% against the dollar, to 1.1686 USD.
[Context: European stock markets show a cautious attitude amid geopolitical tensions. French household confidence declines, while German business sentiment worsens. Stock movements and currency rates are also reported.]
