Stocks in France closed higher on Friday, as gains across Financials, Basic Materials and Consumer Goods pushed headline indexes upward.
At the Paris close, the CAC 40 rose 1.83% to a new one-month high, while the broader SBF 120 gained 1.78%.
Among CAC 40 components, Societe Generale SA (SOGN) led the winners, increasing 6.15% - a rise of 4.25 points - to finish at 73.40. ArcelorMittal SA (MT) added 5.87%, or 3.36 points, to close at 60.60. Accor SA (ACCP) was also a notable gainer, up 5.62% or 2.52 points to 47.39 at the close.
On the downside, Dassault Systemes SE (DAST) recorded the largest drop on the CAC 40, falling 5.47% - a decline of 1.00 point - to 17.21 by the end of trading. TotalEnergies SE (TTEF) declined 2.08%, or 1.62 points, ending the session at 76.38. Thales (TCFP) slipped 1.30%, a drop of 3.10 points, to finish at 234.70.
The SBF 120 posted similar directional leadership. Eramet SA (ERMT) was the top performer on the index, surging 11.01% to 55.15. Air France KLM SA (AIRF) rose 8.36% to settle at 11.86, and Soitec SA (SOIT) gained 6.80% to close at 137.35.
Lagging names on the SBF 120 included Dassault Systemes SE (DAST), down 5.47% to 17.21, Vusiongroup SA (VU) which lost 4.68% to finish at 132.40, and TotalEnergies SE (TTEF) which was down 2.08% to 76.38 at the close.
Market breadth on the Paris Stock Exchange was positive: 275 stocks advanced, 201 declined and 83 finished unchanged.
Volatility and commodity moves
The CAC 40 VIX - measuring implied volatility for CAC 40 options - was unchanged, holding at 18.96, which the market recorded as a new 52-week high.
In commodities, Gold Futures for August delivery rose 2.81% - up 115.51 - to $4,229.51 per troy ounce. Crude oil for July delivery fell 3.37%, down $2.96, to $84.75 a barrel, while the August Brent contract declined 3.56%, or $3.22, to trade at $87.16 a barrel.
Foreign exchange and dollar index
FX moves were limited at the close: EUR/USD was essentially unchanged, up 0.06% to 1.16, and EUR/GBP was flat at 0.86, unchanged by 0.01%. The US Dollar Index Futures slipped 0.07% to 99.78.
Key takeaway
Friday's session saw French equities extend gains across several sectors, lifting benchmark indexes to higher levels for the month while some heavyweight energy and software names underperformed. Market participants noted rising breadth, a stable CAC 40 VIX reading at a 52-week high, divergence between gold and oil moves, and largely steady FX rates.