Stock Markets August 4, 2026 12:05 PM

Paris closes higher as CAC 40 sets a fresh record; energy and luxury names lag

Technology, industrials and materials lead gains while oil slips and volatility ticks higher

By Priya Menon
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Paris equities closed higher on Tuesday, with the CAC 40 rising 0.61% to reach a new all-time high and the SBF 120 up 0.63%. Gains were concentrated in Technology, Industrials and Basic Materials, while energy and luxury names weighed on the market. Commodity moves included a drop in crude and Brent oil and a rise in December gold futures.

Paris closes higher as CAC 40 sets a fresh record; energy and luxury names lag
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Key Points

  • CAC 40 closed up 0.61% to a new all-time high; SBF 120 rose 0.63%
  • Technology, Industrials and Basic Materials led gains while energy and luxury stocks underperformed
  • Commodities saw divergent moves: gold futures rose while crude and Brent oil fell significantly

French equities ended the session in positive territory on Tuesday as advances in Technology, Industrials and Basic Materials stocks propelled benchmark indexes higher.

At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 rose 0.61% to register a new all-time high, while the broader SBF 120 increased 0.63%.


Market movers on the CAC 40

  • ArcelorMittal SA (MT) outperformed the index, climbing 4.24% - a gain of 2.62 points - to finish at 64.44. Shares in ArcelorMittal rose to 5-year highs during the session.
  • STMicroelectronics NV (STMPA) added 3.58%, or 1.62 points, closing at 46.89.
  • Thales (TCFP) was up 3.39%, a rise of 8.60 points, to end at 262.40.

On the downside, several notable names finished lower:

  • Kering SA (PRTP) declined 3.16%, or 9.10 points, to close at 279.30.
  • TotalEnergies SE (TTEF) slipped 2.85%, down 2.18 points, to 74.25 at the close.
  • Pernod Ricard SA (PERP) fell 1.69%, a decrease of 1.16 points, to 67.56.

SBF 120 movers

  • Soitec SA (SOIT) led gains on the SBF 120, jumping 9.88% to 120.10.
  • Solutions 30 SE (S30) advanced 6.35% to settle at 0.60.
  • Euroapi SAS (EAPI) rose 6.17% to close at 1.02.

Among the SBF 120 laggards, Remy Cointreau (RCOP) lost 3.27% to 46.20, while Kering and TotalEnergies were also among the weakest names, reflecting the moves noted on the CAC 40.


Breadth and volatility

Rising stocks outnumbered decliners on the Paris exchange by 265 to 180, with 86 shares unchanged. The CAC 40 VIX, which gauges implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 18.96, marking a new 52-week high.


Commodities and currencies

  • Gold Futures for December delivery rose 1.30%, gaining 53.09 to $4,143.59 per troy ounce.
  • Crude oil for September delivery fell 5.41%, down $4.35, to $75.99 a barrel.
  • October Brent oil dropped 5.17%, a decline of $4.33, to trade at $79.44 a barrel.

In FX markets, EUR/USD was effectively unchanged, moving 0.13% to 1.15, while EUR/GBP was essentially flat, changing 0.06% to 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures eased 0.01% to 99.77.


Takeaway

The session left Paris benchmarks higher and the CAC 40 at a record closing level, with Technology, Industrials and Basic Materials providing the bulk of the advance. At the same time, energy and luxury sector stocks lagged, and commodity price swings - particularly in oil and gold - were notable market drivers. Volatility measures sat at a 52-week high even as the VIX reading was unchanged for the session.

Risks

  • Elevated implied volatility - the CAC 40 VIX was unchanged at 18.96, a new 52-week high - could increase trading uncertainty for equity and options markets (affects equities and derivatives markets)
  • Sharp declines in oil prices - September crude and October Brent fell over 5% each - may pressure energy-sector stocks and related supply-chain dynamics (affects energy and industrial sectors)
  • Concentrated performance among top gainers and losers - notable swings in single names such as Soitec, ArcelorMittal and Kering may increase idiosyncratic risk for portfolios overweight those stocks (affects sector and stock-specific risk)

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