Paris equities finished the trading session higher on Monday, powered by strength in Technology, Industrials and Utilities stocks. At the close in Paris the benchmark CAC 40 index advanced 0.60%, while the broader SBF 120 rose 0.63%.
Leading the gains on the CAC 40 was STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA), which climbed 9.76% - a 2.43 point increase - to finish at 27.32. Thales (EPA:TCFP) added 4.17%, gaining 10.30 points to end the session at 257.40, and Societe Generale SA (EPA:SOGN) rose 3.28%, or 2.38 points, to close at 74.96.
On the downside, L'Oreal SA (EPA:OREP) was the largest laggard on the CAC 40, slipping 1.55% or 6.10 points to close at 387.95. Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) declined 1.47% - down 1.70 points - to end at 113.70, and Eurofins Scientific SE (EPA:EUFI) fell 1.15%, a loss of 0.78 points, to 67.22 at the close.
The SBF 120's top performers mirrored some of the CAC 40 movers. STMicroelectronics again led the list with its 9.76% advance to 27.32. Ubisoft Entertainment (EPA:UBIP) climbed 6.44% to settle at 4.30, and Dassault Aviation SA (EPA:AM) gained 4.67% to finish at 331.80. Among the SBF 120's weakest stocks, Eramet SA (EPA:ERMT) fell 5.95% to 64.00, Verallia (EPA:VRLA) lost 2.55% to settle at 22.96, and L'Oreal rounded out the worst performers at a decline of 1.55% to 387.95.
Market breadth on the Paris exchange was tilted toward advancers, with 280 stocks rising versus 221 declining, and 72 issues unchanged. Capgemini's shares fell to 5-year lows, sliding 1.47% or 1.70 to 113.70, a development noted during the session.
Volatility metrics moved as well. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 18.96 - a new 52-week high.
Commodities and currencies saw active moves alongside equities. Gold futures for April delivery increased 2.27%, or 112.85, to $5,092.65 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 1.72% or $1.09 to $64.64 a barrel, while the April Brent contract climbed 1.72% or $1.17 to trade at $69.22 a barrel.
In foreign exchange markets, EUR/USD strengthened 0.72% to 1.19, and EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged, moving 0.31% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures declined 0.67% to 96.86.
The session closed with a broad uptick in French stocks, led by strong moves in selected technology and industrial names. At the same time, pockets of weakness - including a few notable declines and a newly recorded volatility high for the year - were evident within the market.