On Wall Street, the trend is also negative. Around 6:00 p.m., the Nasdaq is down 1.31% and the Dow Jones has slipped 0.82%.

In this tense climate, Donald Trump has toughened his rhetoric, threatening to "obliterate" Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, while suggesting that negotiations remain possible. "I don't want that," he added. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that Washington was awaiting a response from Tehran before the deadline. Furthermore, the White House denied any intention of considering the use of nuclear weapons.

On the ground, the United States conducted strikes against Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil terminal, which handles approximately 90% of the country's crude exports. Simultaneously, the Israeli military targeted railway infrastructure and bridges in Iran, aiming at facilities linked to the Revolutionary Guard, according to Benjamin Netanyahu. For its part, Qatar warned that the region is approaching a point of escalation that may prove difficult to control.

Oil markets remain under strain, with prices at levels not seen since June 2022. WTI is up 2.02% at 116.16 USD, while Brent has gained 1% to 110.65 USD.

On the macroeconomic front, PMI indicators set the pace for the session. In France, service sector activity contracted in March, though less sharply than expected, with the index at 48.8 points. The composite index also came in at 48.8, signaling a more pronounced slowdown than in February, but less severe than anticipated. In the eurozone, the composite PMI fell to 50.7, its lowest level in nine months, reflecting a loss of economic momentum.

Regarding individual stocks, Vivendi (+9.10%) and Bolloré (+3.77%) stood out following the announcement of a bid by Pershing Square for Universal Music Group (+11.40% in Amsterdam), valuing the group at 64 billion dollars and planning a New York listing.

Ranking second on the CAC 40 behind STMicroelectronics (+4.18%), Publicis (+1.11%) was supported by press reports that Microsoft has reportedly awarded it its global media account, at the expense of Dentsu.

Conversely, Worldline (-13.81%), Genfit (-13.67%), and Atos (-7.59%) endured a particularly difficult session.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro is up 0.28% at 1.1573 USD.