The entry of Russian troops into the separatist regions of Ukraine is expected to shake the markets. The Eurostoxx 50 opens at 3,985.71 points (-2.17%), the CAC 40 at 6,788.34 points (-2.04%), the DAX 40 at 14,731.12 points (-2.07% ), the FTSE 100 at 7,484.33 points (-0.39%), the SMI at 11,891.88 points (-0.98%), the AEX at 729.73 points (-2.04%), the BEL 20 at 3,969.13 points (-1.88%), IBEX 35 at 8,488.90 points (-1.18%), DJIA at 34,079.18 points (-0.68%), Nasdaq at 13,548.07 points (-1.23%), the S&P 500 at 4,348.87 points (-0.72%) and the Nikkei 225 at 26,449.61 points (-1.71%).

Regarding exchange rates, the change from the close in New York indicates that EUR/USD opens at 1.1307 (-0.04%), EUR/JPY at 129.69 (-0.05%) and USD/JPY at 114.69 (-0.05%).

On Monday evening, Vivendi raised the price of its takeover bid (OPA) for Lagardère from 24.10 to 25.50 euros per share, according to the draft offer filed that same day with the Autorité des marchés financiers. (AMF). Vivendi raised the price of its takeover bid for Lagardère after observing that the "resop" of the distribution and media group, which is its main indicator of profitability, had become positive again last year. Vivendi already holds 45.13% of Lagardère's capital and voting rights. The takeover bid will lapse if the initiator does not hold, at the end of the initial period of the offer, "a number of shares representing a fraction of the capital or voting rights of Lagardère greater than 50%", a specified the AMF in its opinion.

European equity markets are expected to open lower on Tuesday, weighed down by Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to deploy the army in two separatist regions of Ukraine whose independence he has recognized. Some investors fear that this decision will bring kyiv and Moscow closer to an armed conflict. Around 7:30 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract was down 43 points, or 0.6%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The DAX 40 contract lost 141 points, or 1%, and the FTSE 100 contract lost 40 points, or 0.5%.

Futures contracts on the main indexes on Wall Street, which was closed on Monday, also point to a sharply lower opening. The contract on the Dow Jones index (DJIA) lost 1.3%, that on the S&P 500 fell by 1.5% and that on the Nasdaq fell by 2.1%. The United States, the European Union and many other countries denounced the decision and the White House warned that new sanctions would be adopted against Russia on Tuesday in response to Moscow's actions. The United Nations also condemned the Russian decision. In the meantime, US President Joe Biden has issued an executive order prohibiting "any new investment, trade or financing by US citizens" in breakaway regions. Against this backdrop, Asian markets plunged on Tuesday. The Nikkei index closed down 1.7% in Tokyo. At the end of the session, the Hang Seng index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange fell by 3.1%, while the Shanghai Composite lost 1.3%.

The yield on the 10-year US Treasury bond, the market benchmark, fell sharply on Tuesday morning as investors favored safe-haven assets. At 7:30 a.m., it stood at 1.872%, against 1.928% on Friday at the close. The US bond market was closed on Monday due to a US holiday.

The euro changed little on Tuesday against the dollar and the yen, which are considered safe havens and benefit from the risk aversion caused by the announcement of upcoming American sanctions against Moscow and the failure of diplomatic efforts carried out around the 'Ukraine.

Oil prices rose sharply on Tuesday morning after the arrival of Russian troops in the separatist territories in eastern Ukraine. The April contract on Brent from the North Sea is thus approaching the bar of 100 dollars a barrel. Some analysts have warned that crude prices could rise above $100 a barrel if tensions in Ukraine escalate into full-blown war. As of 7:20 a.m., the April Brent contract was up $1.98, or 2.1%, at $97.37 a barrel. The same-maturity light sweet crude (WTI) contract listed on the Nymex traded for $3.08, or 3.4%, at $93.29 a barrel.