The Paris stock exchange terminated trading on Friday with marginal losses, reflecting subdued investor sentiment within several major market sectors. The CAC 40 index edged down by 0.07%, closing just below its previous level, while the wider SBF 120 index declined by 0.06%, indicating a broadly negative but balanced market environment.
The downturn was largely driven by drops in stocks within the Consumer Services, Healthcare, and Financials sectors. These sectors saw pressure that offset gains seen in other areas of the market.
Among the CAC 40 constituents, Thales (EPA:TCFP) emerged as a top gainer, rising 2.82% or 7.10 points to finish at 258.50. Legrand SA (EPA:LEGD) also posted solid gains, increasing by 1.95% or 2.45 points to 127.95, while Safran SA (EPA:SAF) added 1.44%, closing 4.40 points higher at 310.40.
Conversely, some prominent stocks recorded declines. Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA (EPA:SGOB) fell by 1.86%, dropping 1.58 points to settle at 83.20. Kering SA (EPA:PRTP) saw its shares decrease by 1.82% or 5.10 points to 274.95, and Bouygues SA (EPA:BOUY) ended 1.74% lower at 44.49, retreating 0.79 points.
The SBF 120 index's best performers included Eramet SA (EPA:ERMT), which surged 7.74% to reach 87.00, marking a 52-week high. Dassault Aviation SA (EPA:AM) climbed to an all-time high, gaining 3.98% to 334.20. Fnac Darty SA (EPA:FNAC) also recorded notable strength with a 3.95% increase, closing at 30.25.
Oppositely, Valneva (EPA:VLS) shed 6.38% to finish at 4.11, marking one of the steepest declines on the session. Teleperformance SE (EPA:TEPRF) fell by 5.38% to 58.74, while Edenred SA (EPA:EDEN) dropped 4.66% to 17.38 by market close.
Overall market breadth was nearly balanced with 244 advancing stocks slightly outnumbering 241 decliners on the Paris exchange, and 89 shares ending unchanged. The volatility measure of the CAC 40, known as the VIX, remained steady at 18.96, coinciding with a 52-week peak for this indicator, suggesting elevated implied volatility on options.
In the commodities marketplace, gold futures for February delivery increased 1.42% or 69.56 points to reach $4,982.96 per troy ounce. Crude oil markets advanced as well, with March WTI futures up 2.66% at $60.94 per barrel and March Brent crude futures climbing 2.59% to $65.72 per barrel.
Currency markets exhibited little change, with the euro against the US dollar marking a minor rise of 0.22% to 1.18, and the euro versus the British pound gaining 0.53% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index futures decreased 0.40% to 97.78.
The day's trading illustrated cautious investor behavior amid mixed sector performance, with some stocks hitting significant highs even as broader markets in France closed slightly lower.