Paris (France) (AFP) – The Paris Stock Exchange is moving cautiously on Wednesday, after the extension of the fragile truce in the Middle East decided unilaterally by the United States and a shower of company results, which notably weigh down Bureau Veritas and Eurofins Scientific.
Published on: 04/22/2026 - 09:57 Modified on: 04/22/2026 - 09:59
Around 9:40 a.m., the CAC 40 lost 0.12% to 8,226.40 points, a decline of 9.32 points. On Tuesday, the flagship index of the Paris Stock Exchange lost 1.14% to 8,235.72 points (-95.33 points).
American President Donald Trump resolved Tuesday evening to extend until further notice the truce observed with Iran since April 8, while specifying that the American blockade of Iranian ports would continue.
This news did not reassure investors, however.
The latter have "clearly integrated the risk of a failure of the negotiations, in particular after the suspension of the trip of Vice-President JD Vance (to Pakistan: Editor's note) for lack of credible commitment from Tehran", notes analyst John Plassard of the private bank Cité Gestion.
"A new escalation remains possible at any time. The US maritime blockade could force the mullahs' regime into a military response. The fuse of the powder keg in the Middle East therefore continues to burn," said Andreas Lipkow, at CMC Markets.
Another point of attention for Parisian investors: a shower of company results, most of which publish turnover figures for the first quarter of 2026.
Bureau Veritas picks up
The action of the specialist in tests, verifications and certifications fell sharply on the stock market, after having revised its outlook for 2026 slightly downward. Its stock plunged 10.31% to 25.50 euros around 9:30 a.m.
Eurofins Scientific seized
The French analysis laboratory giant announced on Wednesday a turnover of 1.789 billion euros in the first quarter, a "moderate" increase of 1.3%, but lower than analysts' expectations. Its action fell 8.56% to 63.42 euros.
FDJ steps back
FDJ United (-6.44% to 24.69 euros), new name of Française des Jeux, recorded a turnover down 3.2% in the first quarter of 2026, affected by the increase in taxation, and revised its forecasts downwards.
Danone on the rise
The turnover of the agri-food giant Danone fell by 2% in the first quarter, to 6.7 billion euros, affected mainly by the appreciation of the euro but also by infant milk recalls and the war in the Middle East.
Despite this expected drop, "the balance between volume and price", "the positive organic growth" in "the three divisions and the three geographical areas" of the group are "well received", according to analysts at Oddo BhF bank. The group's stock gained 1.87% to 67.66 euros.
© 2026 AFP
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