European equity markets are expected to open in the green pending ECB announcements

Eurostoxx 50 displays     3,827.96 points -0.09% , the CAC 40 is          6,542.14 points +0.07%, the DAX 40   at        14,076.44 points -0.34% , the FTSE 100          7.580,80 points +0.05% , the SMI at            12.378.68 points 0.00%, the AEX to               718.07 points +0.24% , the BEL 20 to          4.192.13 points +0.17% , the IBEX at 35           8,617.80 points +0.46%, the DJIA         at    34,564.59 points +1.01% , the Nasdaq    at       13,643.59 points +2.03% , the S&P at 500           4,446.59 points +1.12%, the Nikkei 225     at  27,157.85 points +1.17% (price at 7:25 am)

Exchange price at 06:50

Variation from fence in New York

EUR/USD trade at     1.0915   +0.21% , EUR/JPY    at 136.78   -0.06% and

USD/JPY at    125.32   -0.28%

   Hermès, Publicis and Virbac publish their first quarter revenues on Thursday, while OVHcloud presents its half-year results. Teleperformance and TF1 bring together their shareholders at a general meeting.

   In addition, French streaming music specialist Deezer is close to an agreement to go public through a merger with a listed investment (Spac) supported by the Pinault family and investment banker Matthieu Pigasse,

Deezer is in discussions to merge with I2PO. The transaction with Deezer could be announced in the coming days. The amount of the transaction could not be determined.

   ACTIONS

   European stock markets are expected to start Thursday's session in the green as investors await the Central Bank's monetary policy decision European (ECB) and the press conference of its president, Christine Lagarde.

   At 7:35 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract won 38 points, or 0.6%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The CONTRACT on the DAX 40 was up 91 points, or 0.7%, and the FTSE 100 contract was up 17 points, or 0.2%.

   Investors believe the ECB will not change its monetary policy this Thursday, but could open the door to an interest rate hike in the months that Inflation continues to accelerate in the euro area despite economic uncertainties linked to the war in Ukraine.

   The market is currently pricing in two 25 basis point ECB rate hikes this year, an assumption that "seems reasonable" to Pimco, The ECB should only Announcing no significant measures this week, but the release in June of his teams' new growth and inflation projections "will likely provide him with cover to end net asset purchases in July."

   By raising rates this year, the ECB would follow in the footsteps of many other global central banks, including the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and the Bank of Canada. 'England, in a context of high inflation fuelled by soaring commodity prices. The Bank of Canada raised rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday and said further hikes would be needed in the coming months. The central banks of South Korea and Singapore also announced rate hikes on Thursday in order to contain inflation.

   In the United States, Fed Governor Christopher Waller estimated Wednesday that inflation may have peaked in March and could now ease. However, he said it remained too high and that the central bank would have to continue its rate hikes in a marked way to stop the rise in prices. He reiterated in this regard that he should vote in favor of a rate hike of 50 basis points at the Next Monetary Policy Meeting of the Fed, scheduled for May 3-4.

   Wall Street ended sharply higher on Wednesday, supported by the advance of the technology compartment thanks to the relaxation of bond yields. The Dow Jones Index (DJIA) rose 1% to 34,564.59 points. The broader S&P 500 index rose 1.1% to 4,446.60 points. Rich in technology stocks, the Nasdaq Composite Index gained more than 2% to 13,643.59 points.

   In the wake of the US indices, the main Asian stock exchanges are up on Thursday. In Tokyo, the Nikkei index gained 1.2% at the end of the session. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange's Hang Seng Index was up 0.4 percent, and the Shanghai Composite was up 1 percent.

OBLIGATIONS

   U.S. Treasury yields continue to decline Thursday morning, as investors remain focused on the Consumer Price Index released in United States on Tuesday, which sparked a debate on whether inflation would reach a possible peak.

   At 7:35 a.m., the yield on the ten-year Treasury bill, the market's benchmark, fell to 2.675% from 2.698% on Wednesday night.

CHANGES

   The euro is rising against the dollar on Thursday morning, due to a renewed appetite for risk fuelled in particular by the moderation of the inflation outlook in the USA.

   The single currency could be highly appreciated if the words of the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, at Thursday's meeting, are prompting the market to bet on a rise in interest rates as early as June, according to Ebury.

   Christine Lagarde should repeat that the ECB will raise interest rates "some time" after asset purchases stop, but it could signal heightened concern about the persistence of high inflation, Ebury analysts say.

PETROLE

   Oil prices fall on Thursday. The market is anticipating an increase in fuel demand as health restrictions are eased around the world, said Tina Teng, an analyst at CMC Markets, noting that U.S. airline Delta Air Lines has reported a jump in bookings.

   Oil prices reached their highest level in two weeks on Wednesday after Vladimir Putin said negotiations with Ukraine They are at an impasse, raising concerns about further losses of Russian oil globally.

   At 7:25 a.m., the June contract on North Sea Brent was down 34 cents, at $108.44 a barrel, while the May contract on Nymex-listed light crude (WTI) lost 72 cents, to $103.53 per barrel.