(BFM Stock Exchange) – The Parisian index has taken up a bit from the field conceded in the latter sessions, after inflation figures slightly lower than expectations in the United States. Investors have however kept a careful eye for the latest commercial and geopolitical news, and hope for a cease-fire in Ukraine.

The Paris Stock Exchange returned to walking order this Wednesday, March 12, after losing 3.2% on all the three previous sessions. Its star index, the CAC 40 closing up 0.59%, at 7,988.96 points which is therefore insufficient to stay above the 8,000 points.

Investors have taken note of American inflation figures for the month of February. Last month, the consumer price index excluding energy and food prices increased by 3.1% over a year where consensus awaited an increase of 3.2% still over a year.

“In theory, the month of February is the first for which it would have been possible to see a small effect of customs rights increases because the first increase of 10 points against China took effect at the beginning of this month. But nothing is really detectable for the moment,” notes Bastien Drut, responsible for strategy and economic studies at CPRAM.

“The question is now whether this report is simply a sign that will appeal to the federal reserve and will open up new declines, or a sign of concern about growth,” added Florian Ielpo, chief of macroeconomic research at Lombard Odier.

The market must also digest the many news on the geopolitical and commercial front. This Wednesday, American customs duties of 25% on imports of aluminum and steel from around the world. The European Union has announced that it would retaliate by applying taxes to a series of American products from April 1.

“These protectionist policies will certainly not lead to the desired economic prosperity for the United States,” said Sebastian Paris Horvitz, of LBPAM.

“The 25% of customs taxes on steel and aluminum which today takes effect will increase the costs of American industry without gain for anyone. In fact, it is rather the risk of recession across the Atlantic which is rising,” he adds.

Mexico and Brazil have respectively announced that they do not launch immediate reprisals for American customs taxes on steel and aluminum.

Big pump for Puma

On the values ​​side, Rheinmetall jumped 9.6%, registering a record at the fence (1,265 euros) and in session (1,279.50 euros) praised for having delivered 2024 records at all floors. Analysts also expect the defense group to raise its objectives this year with the increase in military spending in Europe.

On the other hand, Puma experienced a black session (-19.9%) sanctioned for its disappointing prospects for 2025.

Inditex was also chastised on the Madrid Stock Exchange (-7.5%), not for its 2024 results which were the highest in its history but for a disappointing increase in sales at the start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

In Paris, the results season for major companies on the coast is now in the rear view mirror, with a rather mixed assessment as we had indicated in a previous article.

Clariane jumped 14.4%, the title of the operator of retirement homes benefited from a note from BNP Paribas Exane which raised its opinion to “outperformance” against neutral. This same financial intermediary has also resumed the follow -up of Emeis (+2%) to “Superformance”.

Bureau Veritas rendered 1.3%, weighted by an operation of a share of a long -term shares on the part of Wendel.

In other markets, the euro lost 0.1% against the dollar at 1.0908 dollars. Oil jumped after a slightly less assertive increase than expected oil stocks in the United States last week. The May contract on the Brent de Mer du Nord gains $ 2% at $ 70.34 per barrel while the April that on the WTI listed in New York takes 2.2% at 67.73 Dollars per barrel.