Stock Markets March 3, 2026

Paris Stocks Fall Sharply as CAC 40 Posts One-Month Low

Broad selling weight hits utilities, industrials and financials as volatility and commodity moves accompany the selloff

By Derek Hwang
Paris Stocks Fall Sharply as CAC 40 Posts One-Month Low

French equities ended lower on Tuesday, with the CAC 40 plunging 3.46% to a one-month low and the SBF 120 sliding 3.45%. Losses were widespread across utilities, industrials and financials. A large majority of listed names fell, the CAC 40 VIX reached a new 52-week high, and commodities and currencies showed notable intraday moves.

Key Points

  • CAC 40 fell 3.46% to a new one-month low; SBF 120 fell 3.45%.
  • Broad selling led by Utilities, Industrials and Financials; declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones 417 to 89.
  • Volatility rose as the CAC 40 VIX reached a new 52-week high at 18.96; significant commodity and FX moves accompanied the selloff.

Paris equities closed sharply lower on Tuesday, with the benchmark CAC 40 dropping 3.46% to record a new one-month low and the broader SBF 120 declining 3.45%.

Sector pressure was broad-based, led by declines in Utilities, Industrials and Financials, which collectively pushed the market down through the afternoon and into the close.

Individual movers on the CAC 40

  • Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) was the top performer on the CAC 40, rising 2.84% or 2.95 points to close at 106.80.
  • Orange SA (EPA:ORAN) ended the session down 0.34% or 0.06 points at 17.81.
  • Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) fell 0.73% or 0.14 points to finish at 18.34.

Largest decliners

  • ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) led losses, sliding 7.63% or 4.16 points to 50.38 at the close.
  • Kering SA (EPA:PRTP) dropped 6.35% or 17.25 points to end at 254.25.
  • Legrand SA (EPA:LEGD) declined 6.04% or 9.10 points to 141.60.

On the SBF 120, Teleperformance SE (EPA:TEPRF) was the top gainer, rising 5.95% to 54.12. Vusiongroup SA (EPA:VU) gained 2.90% to close at 113.70, while Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) also featured in the winners, up 2.84% to 106.80.

The weakest names on the SBF 120 included Worldline SA (EPA:WLN), which tumbled 11.55% to 1.46 in late trade, Aperam SA (AS:APAM) which lost 10.39% to settle at 38.64, and Opmobility SE (EPA:OPM) which declined 8.13% to 15.02 at the close.

Market breadth in Paris was heavily negative: declining issues outnumbered advancers by 417 to 89, while 59 stocks finished unchanged. The CAC 40 VIX, the gauge of implied volatility on CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 18.96 and marked a new 52-week high.

Commodities and currency moves accompanied the equity selloff. Gold futures for April delivery were down 4.06% or 215.86 to $5,095.74 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for April delivery rose 6.30% or 4.49 to $75.72 a barrel, and the May Brent contract increased 6.37% or 4.95 to $82.69 a barrel.

In foreign exchange trading, the euro weakened versus the dollar, with EUR/USD down 0.81% to 1.16. EUR/GBP was effectively unchanged, quoted 0.11% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures strengthened, rising 0.83% to 99.15.

Tuesday's session left Paris markets notably lower across multiple sectors, with volatility measures and commodity price swings adding to the market picture as the day concluded.

Risks

  • Elevated market volatility indicated by the CAC 40 VIX at a 52-week high could amplify price swings for equities, particularly in Utilities, Industrials and Financials.
  • Concentrated declines in large-cap names such as ArcelorMittal, Kering and Legrand present downside risk to indices and related sectors.
  • Large moves in commodities and currencies, including a sharp decline in gold futures and gains in crude and Brent prices, can unsettle market sentiment and affect commodity-linked companies and sectors.

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