French equities ended Friday on a positive note, with the benchmark CAC 40 rising 0.43% and the broader SBF 120 gaining 0.41% as sectors including Industrials, Basic Materials and Oil & Gas provided the main upward momentum.
At the close in Paris, investor attention centered on several heavyweights that drove much of the market action. Vinci SA (EPA:SGEF) led the CAC 40 winners, jumping 9.91% - a 12.10-point increase - to finish at 134.20. Eiffage SA (EPA:FOUG) also posted a notable advance, adding 5.71% or 7.25 points to end the day at 134.30. Steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) was another contributor to the rally, rising 4.47% or 2.19 points to 51.20.
On the downside, Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM) recorded the steepest decline on the benchmark, plunging 25.24% or 2.06 points to close at 6.11. Food group Danone SA (EPA:DANO) fell 3.70% or 2.66 points to 69.16, while Renault SA (EPA:RENA) slipped 3.32% or 1.06 points to finish at 30.87.
The SBF 120 reflected similar top-level moves. Aperam SA (AS:APAM) was the top performer on that index, advancing 11.80% to close at 41.50. Vinci and Eiffage were among the next best performers on the SBF 120, finishing at 134.20 and 134.30 respectively. The weakest names on the SBF 120 included Stellantis, which was down 25.24% to 6.11, Ayvens SA (EPA:AYV), which lost 6.73% to 11.51, and X Fab Silicon Foundries EV (EPA:XFAB), which fell 5.67% to 4.29.
Market breadth on the Paris exchange was tilted toward falling shares. Decliners outnumbered advancers by 275 to 212, and 92 stocks finished unchanged.
Several large-cap stocks reached notable price milestones during the session. Vinci SA climbed to all-time highs, rising 9.91% or 12.10 points to 134.20. Eiffage SA also recorded an all-time high after a 5.71% advance to 134.30. ArcelorMittal SA reached 5-year highs with a 4.47% gain to 51.20. Aperam SA moved to 3-year highs, up 11.80% or 4.38 points to 41.50. Conversely, Stellantis NV fell to 5-year lows, dropping 25.24% or 2.06 to 6.11.
Volatility indicators moved independently of the equity gains. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of options on the benchmark, was unchanged on the day yet marked a new 52-week high at 18.96.
Commodities trading showed broad strength. Gold Futures for April delivery advanced 1.87% or 91.34 to $4,980.84 per troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery rose 1.42% or $0.90 to $64.19 a barrel, while the April Brent contract increased 1.48% or $1.00 to trade at $68.55 a barrel.
In currency markets, EUR/USD was reported at 1.18, moving 0.30% on the session, while EUR/GBP was quoted at 0.87 with a 0.22% move. The US Dollar Index Futures declined 0.18% to 97.53.
This session illustrated a market environment where sector-specific strength in Industrials, Basic Materials and Oil & Gas underpinned headline gains for the French market, even as broader participation favored sellers and several large names registered multi-year extremes in both directions.