In the previous session, the CAC 40 jumped 4.49%, its sharpest daily gain since March 9, 2022 (+7.13%), a time when investors were betting on a diplomatic solution shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Turning to today's news, Donald Trump posted early this morning on his social media platform: "All U.S. military ships, aircraft, and personnel - along with additional ammunition, weaponry, and everything deemed appropriate and necessary for the lethal pursuit and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy - will remain in and around Iran until the REAL DEAL reached is fully honored."

The U.S. President is exerting significant pressure on Tehran, leaving the ceasefire fragile and failing to reassure investors, especially as negotiations between the United States and Iran are scheduled to take place soon in Pakistan.

Market participants are also monitoring oil prices, which are trending higher an hour after the Paris opening. WTI is up 0.44% at 97.47 dollars, while North Sea Brent is gaining 1.35% to 98.03 dollars.

On the currency market, the euro is nearly flat against the greenback (+0.04%), trading at 1.1663 dollars, its highest level since the beginning of March.

Macroeconomic data on the agenda

In Germany, the trade balance surplus exceeded expectations in February, reaching 19.8 billion euros against analyst forecasts of 18.1 billion euros, following 20.3 billion euros in January.

Also across the Rhine, industrial production for the same period proved disappointing with a 0.3% decline, whereas a 0.6% increase had been anticipated.

The remainder of the day's calendar is entirely U.S.-focused, with several releases at 2:30 PM: weekly jobless claims, fourth-quarter GDP, and the February consumer price index. Later in the afternoon, wholesale inventories will be released at 4:00 PM.

Corporate news

The CAC 40 is being weighed down by a retreat in luxury stocks amid geopolitical uncertainties in a region of growing importance for the sector. LVMH is down 3.75%, while Kering has shed 2.06%.

Vallourec is a notable outperformer, gaining 4.97% after announcing a five-year supply agreement with Fervo Energy. The deal, representing potential revenue of up to 800 million dollars, is intended to support the large-scale deployment of geothermal energy across the United States.

Also well-positioned, Technip Energies is up 3.71%. The group has secured a contract for the Long Son Petrochemicals complex upgrade project in Vietnam.

Rexel is also advancing, up 2.14%, supported by Jefferies, which upgraded the stock from hold to buy while raising its price target from 32 to 43.10 euros.

Conversely, Exosens is logically retreating by 5.74%. According to market sources, a block of 2.25 million shares, representing 4.4% of the capital, was traded after yesterday's close. The transaction was reportedly executed at 64.40 euros per share, representing a discount of approximately 4% to Wednesday's closing price.