(BFM Stock Exchange) – The Parisian index is moving on the mid -session of this Monday, February 17, day during which the American markets are closed. The defense sector is progressing, carried by anticipations of increase in military spending in Europe.

The Paris Stock Exchange begins the week without doing too many waves. The CAC 40 fell 0.01% to 8,177.34 points at mid-session on Monday, February 17.

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

Investors have 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.

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Thales at the top of the CAC 40

This meeting occurs while the recent initiatives of the Trump administration have withdrawn if not marginalized the Europeans in the discussions before reaching the arrest of the war in Ukraine.

“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 takes off on the Paris Stock Exchange. Thales took 5.8% while Safran and Airbus, less exposed to defense than Thales, advance 1.7% and 0.9% respectively. Excluding CAC 40, Dassault Aviation wins 4.6%.

FDJ advances 2.4% after pre-publishing its annual results and warned of the impacts of the new taxation of the games of money on its results.

Biotech Innate Pharma has announced 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 1.0483 dollars. Oil is sluggish. The April contract on the Brent de Mer of the North gives up 0.1% to 74.64 Dollars per barrel while that of March on the Brent de Mer du Nord is back up 0.08% to 70.68 Dollars per barrel.