Equity markets should be hesitant to open, in a climate of caution. The Eurostoxx 50 opens at 3,863.39 points (-0.15%), the CAC 40 at 6,555.77 points (-0.39%), the DAX 40 at 14,273.79 points (-0.07% ), the FTSE 100 at 7,467.38 points (+0.09%), the SMI at 12,131.45 points (+0.26%), the AEX at 720.85 points (-0.13%), the BEL 20 at 4,114.12 points (-0.36%), IBEX 35 at 8,305.10 points (-0.28%), DJIA at 34,707.94 points (+1.02%), Nasdaq at 14,191.84 points (+1.93%), the S&P 500 at 4,520.16 points (+1.43%) and the Nikkei 225 at 28,149.84 points (+0.14%).

Regarding exchange rates, the change from the close in New York indicates that EUR/USD opens at 1.1031 (+0.31%), EUR/JPY at 134.12 (-0.33%) and USD/JPY at 121.60 (-0.63%).

The audiovisual groups TF1 and M6 indicated on Thursday that they had signed an agreement committing them, in the event of the completion of their merger project, to buy back France Télévisions' 33.33% stake in the subscription video-on-demand service Salto for a value of 45 million euros. On Friday, CS Group, Memscap, Pharmagest Interactive and Viel & Cie present their annual results. Aramis Group and Emova Group hold their annual general meeting.

Caution should remain on Friday in Europe, where equity markets are expected to move in mixed fashion at the open, as investors continue to face rising inflation, mixed economic signals, war in Ukraine and persistent disruptions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Around 7:20 a.m., the CAC 40 futures contract gained 3.6 points, or 0.1%, according to data from broker IG Markets. The contract on the DAX 40 gained 11 points, or 0.1%, while that on the FTSE 100 lost 12.1 points, or 0.2%.

The New York Stock Exchange closed higher on Thursday, regaining some of the ground lost the day before thanks to the relaxation of oil prices and an increase in technology stocks driven by the semiconductor sector. In Asia, the main indices presented a mixed picture on Friday. The Nikkei index closed up 0.1% in Tokyo. At the end of the session, the Hang Seng lost 2.4% in Hong Kong and the Shanghai Composite lost 0.8%.

The yield on the ten-year US Treasury bond lost ground on Friday morning to 2.359% from 2.375% the previous evening. On Thursday, the two-year and ten-year rates had reached their highest levels since the start of the year. The advances followed the U.S. decision to roll out new sanctions against Russia, as investors otherwise continue to scrutinize statements by members of the Federal Reserve on the need for further hikes in interest rates. interest.

The euro appreciated Friday morning against the dollar but lost ground against the yen, like the greenback. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said on Friday that the recent weakening of the yen did not mean the market had lost confidence in the Japanese currency.

The pound sterling could appreciate against the euro under the effect of continued monetary tightening by the Bank of England, while the European Central Bank should be slow to follow suit, according to TD Securities. The financial intermediary expects the single currency to retest the 0.825-0.830 pound zone in the short term. The euro is currently trading at 0.8344 pounds.

Oil futures are trading slightly higher on Friday morning. Investors are analyzing reports that Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminals in Kazakhstan may partially resume oil export activity, notes Phillip Securities. At 7:25 a.m., the May contract on Brent from the North Sea gained 26 cents, at 119.29 dollars a barrel, while that of the same expiry on light sweet crude oil (WTI) quoted on the Nymex rose by 8 cents, at 112 $.42 a barrel.