Overview
- Markets ended the week higher after a string of positive company earnings drove buying, with the CAC 40 trading in the mid‑8,500s on Friday following resilient Q2 results in France.
- U.S. tech heavyweights Microsoft and Amazon delivered strong quarterly reports that reignited demand for AI‑linked stocks and helped spark a global tech rebound.
- Bond markets pushed 10‑year yields up — U.S. 10‑year near 4.73% and French 10‑year close to 4% — after public comments from Federal Reserve officials increased investor expectations for tighter policy.
- Oil prices trading near $90 a barrel because of ongoing Middle East hostilities have raised inflation worries, which in turn heighten the prospect of further rate pressure and market volatility.
- European firms showed broad resilience with many earnings beating forecasts and large stock‑specific moves at Schneider Electric, Saint‑Gobain, Worldline and Teleperformance, a pattern that will likely keep company results the main near‑term market driver.