(BFM Stock Exchange) – The Paris Stock Exchange begins the week in the green, supported by its defense sector itself stimulated by anticipations of increase in military spending in Europe. The CAC 40 is just closer to 8,200 points, despite the absence of Wall Street this Monday, February 17.

In small touches, the Paris Stock Exchange continues its ascent towards 8,200 points. The CAC 40 increased further by 0.13% to 8,189.13 points at the end of this Monday, February 17.

The markets had to compose without Wall Street, which is closed this Monday due to the “Day of Day”, a day in honor of the former American presidents. This can obviously weigh on volumes and market animation.

Investors had their eyes turned to geopolitics. In particular the Ukrainian file. An informal meeting in Paris, organized by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, brings together this Monday several European heads of government. The goal is to define a common response to strengthen the security of the old continent.

This meeting occurs while the recent initiatives of the Trump administration have withdrawn if not marginalized the Europeans in the discussions before reaching the arrest of the war in Ukraine.

Thales, Safran and Dassault Aviation at Zenith

“During the weekend, Europeans were plunged into confusion and dismay after various statements and announcements from the American authorities,” notes Sebastian Paris Horvitz, of LBPAM. The economist notably stresses that “President Trump initiated unilateral negotiations with Vladimir Putin, without the involvement of any European partner and leaving the Ukrainian authorities aside”.

In parallel, several European leaders, notably the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, called to raise military spending in Europe, even if it means softening budgetary rules.

The constant of all this information remains that defense expenses will increase in Europe. Without too much surprise, this sector was in the first lines of the highest increases in the CAC 40. Thales resumed 7.8% closing to the highest historic 178.30 euros while Safran and Airbus, less exposed to La Défense than Thales, advanced 2.5% respectively to 252.10 euros and 1.2% to 170.50 euros. Excluding CAC 40, Dassault Aviation increased by 6.5% to 233 euros.

FDJ increased by 3.7% after pre-published its annual and warned results of the impacts of the new taxation of the games of money on its results.

Biotech Innate Pharma resumed 8.6% after announcing that one of its flagship products had obtained innovative drug status in the United States.

In other markets, the euro lost 0.1% against the dollar at 1.0479 dollars. Oil resumes some colors. The April contract on northern Brent of the sea increased from 0.4% to $ 75.01 per barrel while that of March on northern sea brents climbed 0.5% to 71.08 dollars per barrel .