Stocks in France finished the trading session higher on Thursday, with gains concentrated in Basic Materials, Consumer Goods and Consumer Services that helped push benchmark indexes upward.
At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 increased 1.65% to 8,474.86, marking a fresh three-month high. The broader SBF 120 also advanced, climbing 1.66%.
On the CAC 40, ArcelorMittal SA emerged as the top gainer, ending the day up 6.34% or 3.30 points at 55.34. Thales added 4.80% or 11.00 points to close at 240.40, while LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE finished up 3.52% or 16.95 points at 497.95.
Among the laggards on the main index, Legrand SA fell 2.69% or 3.90 points to 141.10 at the close. Renault SA slipped 1.29% or 0.34 points to finish at 25.94, and STMicroelectronics NV was down 0.95% or 0.59 points to 61.78.
The SBF 120’s strongest performers included Sodexo SA, which rose 7.39% to 53.50; ArcelorMittal SA, up 6.34% to 55.34; and Dassault Aviation SA, which gained 5.06% to close at 307.20. The weakest stocks on the SBF 120 were X-Fab Silicon Foundries EV, down 5.00% to 7.22; Soitec SA, which lost 4.20% to 111.75; and Legrand SA, which fell 2.69% to 141.10.
On market breadth, rising issues outnumbered decliners on the Paris Stock Exchange by 289 to 172, while 75 stocks finished unchanged.
The CAC 40 VIX, the measure of implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 18.96, registering a new 52-week high.
Commodities showed mixed moves. Gold futures for August delivery were up 1.39% or 56.75 to $4,139.15 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for August delivery fell 1.05% or 0.72 to $67.86 a barrel, and the September Brent contract declined 0.98% or 0.70 to trade at $70.87 a barrel.
In foreign exchange, the euro strengthened versus the dollar, with EUR/USD up 0.59% to 1.14. EUR/GBP was essentially flat, changing 0.04% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures moved lower, down 0.61% at 100.54.
Market snapshot:
- CAC 40: 8,474.86, +1.65%
- SBF 120: +1.66%
- Top CAC 40 winners: ArcelorMittal (+6.34%), Thales (+4.80%), LVMH (+3.52%)
- Top CAC 40 laggards: Legrand (-2.69%), Renault (-1.29%), STMicroelectronics (-0.95%)
- SBF 120 movers: Sodexo (+7.39%), ArcelorMittal (+6.34%), Dassault Aviation (+5.06%); X-Fab (-5.00%), Soitec (-4.20%), Legrand (-2.69%)
Trading activity on Thursday reflected sector rotation into basic materials and select consumer-facing companies, while some technology and industrial names lagged. Broader measures of volatility and commodity prices also shifted during the session.