Global stock markets are displayed in green

(Paris) The stock markets progressed calmly on Thursday, after encouraging initial figures on inflation in certain European countries, which reinforced the optimism initiated with the drop in tensions concerning the banks.

Wall Street opened higher, but without euphoria. The Dow Jones gained 0.38%, the S

After three sessions of increases, European markets continue: Paris rose by 1%, London by 0.69%, Frankfurt by 1.03% and Milan by 0.96%. Over the first four sessions of the week, they gain between 2.8% and 4.3%.

“It is hard to guess that there is still underlying banking stress, which threatens the accessibility of credit and a potential recession”, also describes Ipek Ozkardeskaya, analyst Swissquote Bank.

With the data to come, attention will even turn to the main theme of the markets for more than a year: inflation, at the center of the publications which will be linked for two days.

First good news for investors: it fell significantly in Germany in March, to 7.4% over one year, and to 3.3% in Spain, against 6% in February, due to a drop in oil prices. ‘energy.

France will announce its estimate on Friday, with an expected decline to 5.5% over one year by analysts polled by Factset, before Eurostat also publishes its indicator for the euro zone.

On the bond market, rates in European countries are rising, particularly on short-term maturities, while those in the United States are fairly stable.

Friday in the United States will also be published the PCE index, the benchmark inflation indicator for the American central bank. US GDP (gross domestic product) growth in the fourth quarter of 2022 was also revised down on Thursday, for the second time, to 2.6%.

Investors will listen to statements from Federal Reserve (Fed) officials, “which will be interesting given the past few weeks,” according to Oanda analyst Craig Erlam, who believes that “investors are trying to figure out where we we are” on the topics of monetary policy and the economic outlook.

In both Europe and the United States, inflation remains well above the central banks’ 2% target, which could push them to raise their key rates further.

The fall in inflation expected in the euro zone should “be mainly due to a strong base effect. Indeed, in March 2022 energy prices rose sharply following the Russian invasion. So, mechanically, with energy prices being much lower in March 2023, headline year-on-year inflation is expected to fall,” explains Christophe Boucher, Chief Investment Officer of Abn Amro IS.

Swedish clothing giant H

In London, Ocado took 9.83% and JD Sports 4.13%.

Oil prices are moving up slightly on Thursday, pushed by signs of increasing demand from the United States, the blockage of supplies from northern Iraq, but also by the possible decline in supply Russian.

A barrel of Brent North Sea oil for May delivery was up 0.51% at $78.68 around 9:45 a.m. EST. Its American equivalent, a barrel of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), for delivery the same month, gained 0.81% to 73.56 dollars.

The pound gained 0.55% to 1.2382 dollars per pound, its highest since early February. The euro also strengthened against the greenback (0.67% to 1.0917 dollars.

Bitcoin was up 0.66% at $28,580.