Stock Markets March 2, 2026

Paris Stocks End Lower as CAC 40 Drops 2.17%; Energy Names Among Few Gainers

Consumer goods, financials and industrials drive market decline while oil and gold climb and volatility hits a 52-week high

By Derek Hwang
Paris Stocks End Lower as CAC 40 Drops 2.17%; Energy Names Among Few Gainers

French equities closed broadly lower on Monday with the CAC 40 down 2.17% and the SBF 120 off 2.11%, as losses in Consumer Goods, Financials and Industrials outweighed gains in select energy and industrial names. TotalEnergies reached session strength while Accor, Stellantis and Renault were among the heaviest decliners. Volatility in CAC 40 options reached a fresh 52-week high, and major commodities and currency moves accompanied the equity weakness.

Key Points

  • CAC 40 closed down 2.17% and SBF 120 fell 2.11% as losses in Consumer Goods, Financials and Industrials drove the market lower.
  • TotalEnergies was among the best performers on the CAC 40, rising 3.09% to 69.36, while Accor, Stellantis and Renault registered the heaviest declines.
  • Commodity and currency shifts accompanied the equity slide: gold and oil prices rose, EUR/USD weakened, and the US Dollar Index Futures strengthened.

Paris markets ended the trading day lower on Monday, with broad-based weakness led by Consumer Goods, Financials and Industrials. At the close in Paris, the benchmark CAC 40 had fallen 2.17%, while the broader SBF 120 slipped 2.11%.

Among large-cap components, TotalEnergies SE recorded one of the session's stronger moves, rising 3.09% or 2.08 points to finish at 69.36. Thales added 0.39% or 1.00 points to close at 255.90, and Bureau Veritas SA rose 0.20% or 0.06 points to end the session at 29.48.

On the downside, Accor SA posted the steepest drop among the CAC 40 constituents, sliding 8.89% or 4.38 points to close at 44.88. Stellantis NV declined 7.11% or 0.49 points to 6.44, while Renault SA fell 5.05% or 1.62 points to end at 30.49.

Within the SBF 120, Viridien SA led gains, rising 6.51% to finish at 116.20. SES advanced 6.09% to settle at 6.71, and Worldline SA gained 5.43% to close at 1.65. The weakest performers on the SBF 120 included Air France KLM SA, which fell 9.43% to 11.14, Accor SA down 8.89% to 44.88, and Vusiongroup SA, which dropped 7.53% to 110.50.

Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Paris Stock Exchange by 361 to 136, while 66 stocks finished unchanged.

Several individual stock milestones were recorded during the session. TotalEnergies rose to a 52-week high, increasing 3.09% or 2.08 to 69.36. Renault shares declined to three-year lows after falling 5.05% or 1.62 to 30.49. Vusiongroup shares moved to 52-week lows, slipping 7.53% or 9.00 to 110.50.

Market sentiment measures showed a rise in option-implied volatility. The CAC 40 VIX was unchanged on the day at 18.96 but marked a new 52-week high.

Movements in commodity and currency markets accompanied the equity declines. Gold futures for April delivery were higher, up 1.33% or 69.89 to 5,317.79 a troy ounce. Crude oil for April delivery rose 5.45% or 3.65 to 70.67 a barrel, while the May Brent contract increased 5.97% or 4.35 to trade at 77.22 a barrel.

Currency markets showed the euro weakening against the dollar, with EUR/USD down 1.02% to 1.17. EUR/GBP was essentially unchanged, with a move of 0.38% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures strengthened 0.99% to 98.53.


Overall, the trading session saw selective strength in energy and a few industrial names, but losses concentrated in consumer-facing and industrial sectors led to a broad-market decline. Volatility and notable moves in commodities and currencies accompanied the weakness across French equities.

Risks

  • Elevated market volatility - the CAC 40 VIX reached a new 52-week high at 18.96, which may increase trading uncertainty for equities and options.
  • Commodity price swings - sharp gains in crude oil and gold could influence sector-level performance, notably in energy and commodity-linked stocks.
  • Currency movements - the euro's decline against the dollar and a stronger US Dollar Index Futures may affect exporters and companies with dollar-linked costs or revenues.

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