Stock Markets February 16, 2026

Paris markets close marginally higher as L’Oreal and banks lead gains; Dassault Systemes plunges

CAC 40 edges up 0.06% while market breadth shows more decliners than advancers; commodity and currency moves mixed

By Derek Hwang
Paris markets close marginally higher as L’Oreal and banks lead gains; Dassault Systemes plunges

French equities finished slightly higher on Monday, with the CAC 40 up 0.06% and the SBF 120 up 0.05%. Gains in Financials, Utilities and Industrials supported the advance, led by L’Oreal and Societe Generale, while Dassault Systemes recorded a steep decline to five-year lows. Commodities and currencies saw mixed movement, and volatility on the CAC 40 VIX reached a 52-week high.

Key Points

  • The CAC 40 closed up 0.06% and the SBF 120 rose 0.05%, with Financials, Utilities and Industrials supporting the advance.
  • L’Oreal SA (EPA:OREP) led gains on the CAC 40, while Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) posted the largest drop and hit five-year lows.
  • Commodity and currency moves were mixed: Gold fell, crude and Brent oil climbed, EUR/USD and EUR/GBP were steady, and the US Dollar Index Futures strengthened.

Paris stocks closed modestly higher on Monday, with momentum coming from the Financials, Utilities and Industrials sectors. At the closing bell the CAC 40 had risen 0.06% while the SBF 120 finished up 0.05%.


Top movers on the CAC 40

  • L’Oreal SA (EPA:OREP) was the session's top gainer on the CAC 40, advancing 3.41% or 12.70 points to finish at 385.05.
  • Societe Generale SA (EPA:SOGN) added 2.91% or 1.94 points to close at 68.64.
  • Thales (EPA:TCFP) rose 2.53% or 6.20 points to end the day at 251.40.

Largest decliners on the CAC 40

  • Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) led losses, falling 10.44% or 1.86 points to trade at 15.96 at the close.
  • EssilorLuxottica SA (EPA:ESLX) declined 4.88% or 12.60 points to end at 245.70.
  • Kering SA (EPA:PRTP) was down 4.75% or 13.50 points to 270.85.

SBF 120 movers

  • On the broader SBF 120, Dassault Aviation SA (EPA:AM) was a top performer, rising 4.06% to 343.20.
  • L’Oreal SA (EPA:OREP) and Societe Generale SA (EPA:SOGN) were also among the SBF 120 leaders, closing at 385.05 and 68.64 respectively.
  • Among the SBF 120 laggards, Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) fell 10.44% to 15.96, Ubisoft Entertainment (EPA:UBIP) lost 9.04% to settle at 4.20 and Television Francaise 1 SA (EPA:TFFP) dropped 5.67% to 6.91 at the close.

Market breadth and notable price extremes

Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Paris Stock Exchange by 286 to 200, while 101 stocks finished unchanged. Shares of Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) fell to five-year lows, down 10.44% or 1.86 to 15.96. Dassault Aviation SA (EPA:AM) rose to an all-time high, up 4.06% or 13.40 to 343.20. Television Francaise 1 SA (EPA:TFFP) fell to 52-week lows, down 5.67% or 0.42 to 6.91.

Volatility, commodities and energy

The CAC 40 VIX, a gauge of implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 0.00% to 18.96, marking a new 52-week high.

In commodity markets, Gold Futures for April delivery slipped 0.65% or 32.55 to $5,013.75 a troy ounce. Oil prices moved higher, with crude oil for April delivery up 0.99% or 0.62 to $63.37 a barrel, and the April Brent contract rising 0.93% or 0.63 to $68.38 a barrel.

Currencies and US dollar

Currency pairs were relatively steady. EUR/USD was unchanged 0.14% at 1.19, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.02% at 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures rose 0.17% to 96.98.

The close left Paris markets slightly firmer overall, though the session featured a mix of strong winners and sharp losers across luxury, software, banking and media names.

Risks

  • Broad market breadth showed more decliners (286) than advancers (200), indicating uneven market participation that could increase short-term volatility - impacts Financials, Industrials and Utilities.
  • Sharp falls in individual names such as Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) and Ubisoft Entertainment (EPA:UBIP) highlight company-specific downside risk within Technology and Media sectors.
  • CAC 40 VIX reaching a 52-week high at 18.96 signals elevated implied volatility which may affect derivative pricing and hedging costs for market participants.

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