(News Bulletin 247) – The Parisian index closed sharply higher this Thursday, October 16, after the Lecornu government escaped two motions of censure. A call between Donald Trump and Vladmir Putin began at the end of the European session.

A call that brings comfort to investors. The Paris Stock Exchange accelerated its progress at the end of the session, while a telephone exchange between Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is underway, on the eve of the American president’s meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

The CAC 40 gained 1.38% to close at 8,188.59 points this Thursday, October 16, i.e. at its highest of the day and 70 points from its absolute records (8,259.29 points).

Bad bet on FDJ, no bad surprise on Pernod Ricard

The Parisian market was already well oriented, reassured by the failure of the two motions of censure tabled by France Insoumise and by the National Rally, which failed to gather the 289 votes necessary to bring down the government of Sébastien Lecornu.

As for trade tensions, “US Treasury Secretary (Scott) Bessent yesterday issued some positive signals, giving hope that the additional 100% customs duties imposed on China would ultimately not be applied,” explains Deutsche Bank.

Scott Bessent “said that to his knowledge, President Trump was ready to meet with President Xi this month. He also suggested that the United States could extend the trade truce if China did not continue its plan to control exports of rare earths”, observes the German bank.

Investors also had to digest many results. At the top of the CAC 40, Pernod Ricard rebounded by more than 4% after publishing activity without any unpleasant surprises in the first quarter of its staggered financial year.

Sartorius Stedim Biotech gained 9.65% after publishing its nine-month results and raising its targets.

FDJ, on the other hand, fell by 3.5% while its revenues once again disappointed in the third quarter.

On other markets, the euro gained 0.16% against the dollar, to 1.1665 dollars. Oil is falling a little. The December contract on Brent from the North Sea lost 0.2% to 61.78 dollars per barrel while that of November on WTI listed in New York also lost 0.2% to 58.14 dollars.