(News Bulletin 247) – The Paris Stock Exchange is down below 7,200 points, before the publication of weekly unemployment registrations in the United States in the afternoon.

Bounce back to fall better. This is the mood that reigns on the Paris Stock Exchange this Thursday, before the publication of data on employment in the United States.

At mid-session this Thursday, the CAC 40 lost 1.2%, to 7,179.88 points, erasing part of the advance gained the day before. On Wednesday, the leading Parisian index had rebounded by 1.91%, which had allowed it to make up for its losses from the beginning of the week.

Nervousness is once again guiding operators’ initiatives in the wake of Wall Street, dampened by disappointing corporate results and mixed Treasury bond issuance, with weak investor demand.

Feverishness before unemployment figures

The markets also have in their sights the weekly unemployment claims in the United States, as they do every Thursday. But this publication is of capital importance. Investors remain stunned by the disappointment over the official employment figures for July, which contributed to the panic at the start of the week.

“Investors will likely stay away until more data emerges. The next two days will be crucial: either calm returns or we see another bout of volatility,” Kerry Goh of Kamet Capital Partners told Bloomberg.

Bad data released on Thursday could revive fears of a recession in the world’s largest economy. JPMorgan estimates the risk that the U.S. economy will slide into recession by the end of the year at 35%, compared to 25% at the beginning of July. The bank estimates the chance of the world’s largest economy entering recession in the second half at 45%, Bloomberg reports.

Oil price decline

On the French companies side, the news remains very sparse. In Europe, however, publications are coming thick and fast, including that of the defense group Rheinmetall (+1.3%), which confirmed its annual objectives after a solid first half.

Outside of publications, Vusiongroup (-2.2%) announced the signing of a contract with Ace Hardware, a DIY brand that is part of the American top 30.

On the currency side, the euro is stable at $1.0928. On the oil price side, they are falling again, after being driven down the day before by supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions. The October contract on North Sea Brent is down 0.8% to $77.69 per barrel, while the September contract on WTI listed in New York is down 0.7% to $74.67 per barrel.