Paris equities finished in negative territory on Wednesday as selling pressure in Industrials, Healthcare and Financials pulled major indices lower.
At the close, the CAC 40 had fallen 0.96%. The broader SBF 120 also declined, slipping 0.92% by the end of trade in Paris.
Winners and losers
On the CAC 40, Danone SA (DANO) was the session's strongest performer, rising 2.50% or 1.66 points to finish at 68.08. Engie SA (ENGIE) added 1.79% or 0.50 points to end at 28.47, and TotalEnergies SE (TTEF) advanced 1.32% or 0.99 points to close at 76.02.
At the other end of the board, Bureau Veritas SA (BVI) fell 10.59% or 3.01 points to 25.42 at the close. Eurofins Scientific SE (EUFI) declined 9.69% or 6.72 points to 62.64, while Safran SA (SAF) was down 3.51% or 9.90 points to 272.50.
Performance across the SBF 120
The SBF 120's top performers included Soitec SA (SOIT), which rose 8.88% to 109.70, Eutelsat Communications SA (ETL), which gained 8.58% to settle at 2.94, and Viridien SA (VIRI), which increased 5.53% to close at 150.70.
Among the heaviest losses on the SBF 120 were the same names that weighed on the CAC 40: Bureau Veritas (BVI), down 10.59% to 25.42; Eurofins Scientific (EUFI), losing 9.69% to end at 62.64; and Valneva (VLS), which retreated 8.14% to 2.38 at the close.
Market breadth and notable price milestones
Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Paris exchange by 290 to 187, while 80 stocks finished unchanged. Shares in Bureau Veritas (BVI) fell to 52-week lows, losing 10.59% or 3.01 to trade at 25.42. Soitec (SOIT) rose to 52-week highs, gaining 8.88% or 8.95 to reach 109.70. Viridien (VIRI) climbed to 5-year highs, up 5.53% or 7.90 to 150.70.
Volatility, commodities and currencies
The CAC 40 VIX, the measure of implied volatility on CAC 40 options, was unchanged on the day at 18.96, marking a new 52-week high.
In commodity markets, Gold Futures for June delivery rose 0.67% or 31.81 to $4,751.41 a troy ounce. Crude oil for June delivery climbed 3.62% or 3.25 to $92.92 a barrel, while the June Brent contract increased 3.21% or 3.16 to trade at $101.64 a barrel.
On the currency front, EUR/USD was unchanged, moving 0.25% to 1.17, and EUR/GBP was unchanged, moving 0.25% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.14% to 98.36.
Summary
Overall, Paris markets closed lower with losses concentrated in Industrials, Healthcare and Financials. A larger number of declining stocks and a VIX reading at a 52-week high underscored the session's risk-off tone, even as particular names such as Soitec and Viridien reached multi-period highs.