Paris equity indices finished in negative territory on Wednesday, with pressure coming from the Consumer Goods, Healthcare and Industrials sectors. At the close, the CAC 40 was down 1.06% while the broader SBF 120 declined 0.96%.
Among CAC 40 constituents, STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) was among the top performers, rising 2.19% or 0.54 points to finish at 24.97. Pernod Ricard SA (EPA:PERP) advanced 1.97% or 1.44 points to end the day at 74.36, and Publicis Groupe SA (EPA:PUBP) appreciated 1.29% or 1.08 points to close at 85.00.
Conversely, several luxury and consumer names recorded notable declines. LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (EPA:LVMH) led losses on the CAC 40, falling 7.89% or 46.50 points to finish at 542.80. Hermes International SCA (EPA:HRMS) dropped 3.76% or 80.00 points to close at 2,050.00, and Kering SA (EPA:PRTP) slid 3.02% or 8.30 points to 266.20 at the end of trading.
On the SBF 120 index, Eutelsat Communications SA (EPA:ETL) posted the session's largest percentage gain, up 11.24% to 2.42. SES (EPA:SESFd) climbed 8.02% to settle at 6.87, while Alstom SA (EPA:ALSO) rose 5.81% to close at 27.70. The weakest SBF 120 performers mirrored the CAC 40, with LVMH down 7.89% to 542.80, Worldline SA (EPA:WLN) losing 5.07% to 1.43, and Hermes down 3.76% to 2,050.00.
Market breadth was tilted toward decliners, with falling stocks outnumbering advancing ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 236 to 234; 98 issues finished unchanged. Notably, Alstom SA (EPA:ALSO) touched three-year highs during the session, gaining 5.81% or 1.52 to reach 27.70.
Volatility and commodity moves accompanied equity action. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 0.00% to 18.96, marking a new 52-week high. In commodities, Gold Futures for April delivery was up 4.21% or 215.45 to $5,336.05 a troy ounce. Crude oil for March delivery rose 0.48% or 0.30 to $62.69 a barrel, and the April Brent contract increased 0.39% or 0.26 to trade at $66.85 a barrel.
Currency markets showed movement alongside stocks. EUR/USD was down 0.85% to 1.19, while EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.39% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures was higher, up 0.29% at 96.32.
Overall, the session reflected divergent sector performance: technology and select industrials posted gains, while consumer goods and luxury names underperformed. Broader market indicators signaled elevated implied volatility and varied commodity and currency shifts, which accompanied the equity declines at the close.