On Wednesday, the CAC 40 index in Paris experienced a slight decline of 0.2%, settling at 7,857. This movement reversed the previous session's gains as investors absorbed remarks from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Powell indicated a cautious approach towards further monetary policy easing due to the uncertain timeline for adjustments, as policymakers juggle inflationary pressures against labor market weaknesses. Markets are now focused on the forthcoming release of Germany's Ifo business climate index, alongside various U.S. housing data reports. Among individual stocks, Sanofi saw a 0.6% increase. This rise follows the company's decision to enhance its venture capital division, Sanofi Ventures, with an additional $625 million, which raises its total investments since 2012 to over $800 million spread across more than 70 biotechnology and AI/digital health enterprises.