Paris equity markets ended the trading session on a positive footing Thursday, with the CAC 40 rising 0.55% and the broader SBF 120 up 0.48% at the close.
Sector leadership came from Utilities, Financials and Technology, which collectively drove the indexes higher. Several large-cap names recorded notable advances: Accor SA (EPA:ACCP) led gains on the CAC 40 with a 3.16% rise, closing at 51.62, while Societe Generale SA (EPA:SOGN) added 2.84% to finish at 78.18. STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) also contributed to the upside, advancing 2.68% to 65.06.
Notwithstanding the overall uptick, weakness was visible among other prominent stocks. Thales (EPA:TCFP) was the session's largest decliner on the CAC 40, falling 3.06% to 218.40. Publicis Groupe SA (EPA:PUBP) dropped 1.70% to 86.58, and Renault SA (EPA:RENA) declined 1.50% to 26.21.
Top and bottom performers - CAC 40
- Accor SA (EPA:ACCP): +3.16% to 51.62
- Societe Generale SA (EPA:SOGN): +2.84% to 78.18
- STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA): +2.68% to 65.06
- Thales (EPA:TCFP): -3.06% to 218.40
- Publicis Groupe SA (EPA:PUBP): -1.70% to 86.58
- Renault SA (EPA:RENA): -1.50% to 26.21
On the SBF 120, the strongest performers included Sartorius Stedim Biotech SA (EPA:STDM), which rose 4.61% to 177.00, Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) also up 4.61% to 112.25, and Trigano SA (EPA:TRIA) which gained 4.04% to close at 139.00. At the other end, Eutelsat Communications SA (EPA:ETL) fell 6.90% to 2.16, X Fab Silicon Foundries EV (EPA:XFAB) lost 5.45% to 8.32, and SES (EPA:SESFd) declined 4.40% to 6.63.
Top and bottom performers - SBF 120
- Sartorius Stedim Biotech SA (EPA:STDM): +4.61% to 177.00
- Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT): +4.61% to 112.25
- Trigano SA (EPA:TRIA): +4.04% to 139.00
- Eutelsat Communications SA (EPA:ETL): -6.90% to 2.16
- X Fab Silicon Foundries EV (EPA:XFAB): -5.45% to 8.32
- SES (EPA:SESFd): -4.40% to 6.63
Market breadth was tilted toward the downside: declining issues outnumbered advancers by 290 to 165, while 82 stocks finished unchanged on the Paris exchange.
There were several stock-specific developments of note. Accor's shares rose to what was reported as all-time highs, gaining 3.16% or 1.58 to 51.62. By contrast, Thales shares fell to 52-week lows, losing 3.06% or 6.90 to 218.40. Renault's stock dropped to 3-year lows, down 1.50% or 0.40 to 26.21.
Risk and volatility indicators also moved: the CAC 40 VIX, which measures implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 0.00% to 18.96 and is noted as a new 52-week high.
Commodities and FX
Commodity markets showed strength in the session. Gold Futures for August delivery were up 1.16% or 46.60 to $4,055.40 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for August delivery rose 1.72% or 1.21 to $71.55 a barrel, while the September Brent contract increased 1.54% or 1.14 to $75.01 a barrel.
Currency moves were modest: EUR/USD was unchanged 0.22% to 1.14, and EUR/GBP was unchanged 0.19% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.27% at 101.12.
Overall, the session closed with gains for the headline indexes driven by select sectors and large-cap movers, while several individual stocks registered marked declines and market breadth remained uneven.