(FILES) A picture taken with a zoom effect shows the CAC 40 amongst stock tickers displayed at the headquarters of the Pan-European stock exchange Euronext in La Defense district, near Paris, on April 27, 2018. European stock markets opened sharply higher on September 19, 2024 with investors showing optimism after the decision taken on Wednesday by the American central bank (Fed) to lower its key rate by 0.5 percentage points. Paris jumped by 1.51%, Frankfurt gained 0.88% and Milan 0.98%. London gained 0.90% in early trading. (Photo by ERIC PIERMONT / AFP)