Paris equity indexes ended Thursday's session in positive territory as gains in the Technology, Consumer Goods and Industrials sectors supported a broadly higher market tone.
At the close, the benchmark CAC 40 rose 0.87%. The broader SBF 120 also advanced, climbing 0.74% by the end of trading in Paris.
Top movers on the CAC 40
- STMicroelectronics NV (STMPA) led the index, gaining 14.44% or 5.41 points to finish at 42.87. The stock reached a 52-week high in the move.
- L'Oreal SA (OREP) added 8.97% or 30.95 points to close at 375.85.
- Orange SA (ORAN) rose 3.28% or 0.57 points to end the session at 17.93.
Lagging names on the CAC 40
- Capgemini SE (CAPP) was the weakest on the index, slipping 5.71% or 6.10 points to close at 100.65.
- EssilorLuxottica SA (ESLX) declined 4.81% or 9.70 points to settle at 191.80.
- Carrefour SA (CARR) fell 2.14% or 0.36 points to finish at 16.44.
SBF 120 movers
- At the top of the SBF 120, Vusiongroup SA (VU) jumped 19.03% to 147.00.
- STMicroelectronics NV (STMPA) was again among the leaders on the SBF 120, up 14.44% to settle at 42.87.
- L'Oreal SA (OREP) gained 8.97% to close at 375.85.
Weakness in the SBF 120
- Biomerieux SA (BIOX) tumbled 17.46% to 73.25 in late trade, moving to a five-year low in the process.
- Sartorius Stedim Biotech SA (STDM) lost 14.18% to settle at 157.90, reaching a 52-week low.
- Worldline SA (WLN) dropped 6.89% to 0.29 at the close.
Market breadth and notable price milestones
On the Paris Stock Exchange, declining issues outnumbered advancing ones by 242 to 227, while 94 stocks finished unchanged. As noted, STMicroelectronics rose to a 52-week high, and Biomerieux fell to a five-year low; Sartorius Stedim Biotech declined to a 52-week low.
Volatility, commodities and currencies
The CAC 40 VIX, which tracks implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 18.96, marking a new 52-week high.
In commodities, Gold Futures for June delivery eased 0.37% or 17.51 to trade at 4,735.49 a troy ounce. Crude oil for June delivery rose 1.77% or 1.65 to 94.61 a barrel, while the June Brent oil contract climbed 1.81% or 1.84 to 103.75 a barrel.
FX moves were limited at the close. EUR/USD was essentially flat, changing 0.03% to 1.17, while EUR/GBP was unchanged by 0.05% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures inched higher by 0.07% to 98.48.
Takeaway
Thursday's session saw selective strength concentrated in large technology and consumer goods names, while several healthcare and technology services stocks recorded sharp declines. Volatility as measured by the CAC 40 VIX stood at a 52-week high, even as most major FX pairs made limited moves and commodity prices were mixed into the close.