Thomas Barnet

Why the Bond Market Terrifies Everyone When Inflation Wakes Up

There is a curious paradox in financial media coverage. Equities grab the headlines and cryptocurrencies generate the buzz, but it is the bond market that truly frightens central bankers, finance ministers, and professional fund managers. It is a market that most retail investors blissfully ignore, even though it dictates a significant portion of their daily economic lives.

May 18, 2026 at 05:07 am

French Analyst Ratings: Price Targets Raised for Vallourec, Teleperformance, and Eutelsat

To kick off the week, analysts are lifting their price targets on several investor favorites. Publicis also sees a valuation upgrade from Citi following its major U.S. acquisition.

May 18, 2026 at 02:29 am

Weekly Earnings Calendar: Focus on Nvidia and Walmart

Welcome to the corporate earnings calendar for the week of May 18 to 22, 2026. Key highlights this week include financial results from NVIDIA, Walmart, Ryanair, The Home Depot and Generali.

May 15, 2026 at 10:55 am

French Analyst Ratings: Morgan Stanley sets EUR 540 target for LVMH

Activity remains subdued on French equities following the public holiday. Morgan Stanley maintains its rating on LVMH while slightly trimming its price target.

May 15, 2026 at 02:51 am

LVMH finishes with Marc Jacobs

The French luxury conglomerate is divesting the brand to WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group for a reported, although unconfirmed, sum of $850m.

May 15, 2026 at 02:26 am

LVMH turns the page on Marc Jacobs

The French conglomerate is divesting the brand to WHP Global and G-III Apparel Group for a reported, though unconfirmed, sum of 850 million dollars.

May 15, 2026 at 12:39 am

Ten Chinese firms reportedly cleared for Nvidia H200 chips

The United States has authorized approximately ten Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance, and JD.com, to procure Nvidia's H200 chips. However, no deliveries have yet been made, despite clearance also being granted to distributors such as Lenovo and Foxconn, according to information obtained by Reuters from multiple sources.

May 14, 2026 at 03:20 am

10 Chinese companies reportedly cleared for Nvidia H200 chips

The United States has authorized about 10 Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Tencent, ByteDance and JD.com, to buy Nvidia's H200 chips. But no shipments have taken place yet, despite approval also granted to distributors such as Lenovo and Foxconn, according to information Reuters obtained from multiple sources.

May 14, 2026 at 02:56 am

Xpeng seeks European factory in partnership with Volkswagen (FT)

The Chinese automaker is in discussions with Volkswagen to establish a manufacturing presence in Europe, according to the Financial Times. This strategic move comes as the company navigates an increasingly stringent regulatory environment.

May 14, 2026 at 02:49 am

Airbus reportedly eyeing stake in Quantum Systems

Airbus and Blackstone are considering investing in German drone startup Quantum Systems, according to Bloomberg. The company could be valued at 7 billion euros.

May 14, 2026 at 02:45 am

French Analyst Ratings: Price targets raised for Vallourec and SES, lowered for Stellantis and Thales

Several rating changes are of note this morning. Bernstein has adjusted its targets upward for Dassault Aviation and downward for Thales. Satellite operators are gaining favor, while Stellantis continues to face headwinds.

May 14, 2026 at 02:32 am

TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips Evaluate Offshore Project in Syria

TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips have signed an agreement with the Syrian Petroleum Company to launch a technical study on offshore Block 3, located off the coast of Latakia, Syria. This MoU establishes a framework for discussions regarding potential commercial exploration. The initiative aligns with the new Syrian government's strategy to attract foreign investment into an energy sector severely weakened by years of civil war and international sanctions.

May 13, 2026 at 02:47 am

EQT raises bid for Intertek one last time in final takeover push

Swedish private equity firm EQT has submitted a final takeover bid valuing Intertek at £9.4bn (approximately $12.7bn), following the rejection of three previous proposals by the British group. Should the deal proceed, it would mark the second largest UK acquisition ever completed by a private equity fund. Intertek said that it is currently reviewing this fourth improved offer, while its shares rose approximately 6% on the London Stock Exchange, though they remain below the proposed offer price.

May 13, 2026 at 02:43 am

French Analyst Ratings: Aramis and Valneva penalized following profit warnings

A limited selection this morning, featuring several midcaps. Among them, Worldline, where Jefferies resumes coverage with a buy rating, considering that 'doubts regarding the company's sustainability have been dispelled following asset disposals and the capital increase'.

May 13, 2026 at 02:42 am

Elis acquires Swiss firm Wäsche Perle

Elis has announced the acquisition of Wäsche Perle in Switzerland, further consolidating its network in the country. The company operates a laundry facility in Interlaken and employs 120 people.

May 13, 2026 at 02:22 am

Wizz Air Sees Outlook Improve Despite Middle East Tensions

Wizz Air has indicated that its financial outlook has improved since the warning issued at the start of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The low-cost carrier now expects to reach break-even or a slight profit for its 2026 fiscal year. This improvement is based on the strength of upcoming bookings as well as measures rapidly implemented to limit the impact of rising fuel prices and air traffic disruptions.

May 12, 2026 at 10:54 am

France analysts: fresh calls on LVMH, Soitec and Stellantis

Barclays turns positive again on LVMH and is no longer negative on Kering. Price targets rise at Legrand, Nexans and Soitec.

May 12, 2026 at 02:38 am

LVMH faces severe fatigue

Will May be the first positive month of 2026 for LVMH? The luxury powerhouse lost ground in January, February, March, and April, resulting in a 30% wipeout of its market capitalization so far this year. However, the decoupling between the market and the luxury sector dates back much further. Furthermore, can luxury still be viewed as a homogenous entity? Bernstein is not so sure.

May 11, 2026 at 08:59 am

Weekly Earnings Calendar

Welcome to the corporate earnings calendar for the week of May 11 to 15, 2026. Key highlights this week include Cisco Systems, Siemens, Allianz, SoftBank, Petrobras, Vodafone, Applied Materials, Bayer, Fox Corporation, and Deutsche Telekom.

May 11, 2026 at 03:45 am

France Analyst Calls: Morgan Stanley Raises Targets on GTT, Vallourec and Technip

To kick off the week, Morgan Stanley updates its price targets on oil services names. BofA downgrades Eurofins.

May 11, 2026 at 02:39 am

Why do the United States worry so much about Japan’s economy?

American financial media often seem to place an outsized weight on Japan’s economic news. Japan is no longer the industrial specter that haunted Washington in the 1980s, but it is, at once, a creditor to America, a military ally, an industrial power, a laboratory for aging, a barometer for the dollar, and a central player in global liquidity.

May 08, 2026 at 08:53 am