Paris-listed stocks ended the session lower on Wednesday, with weakness centred on Technology, Healthcare and Industrials names. At the close, the benchmark CAC 40 fell 0.51% while the broader SBF 120 also retreated 0.51%.
Market movers
Among CAC 40 constituents, Orange SA (EPA:ORAN) was the top gainer, rising 2.07% or 0.37 points to finish at 18.02. Euronext (EPA:ENX) added 2.06% or 2.90 points to end at 144.00, and Veolia Environnement VE SA (EPA:VIE) closed up 1.67% or 0.57 points at 34.70.
On the downside, Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM) was the session's largest laggard on the CAC 40, sliding 4.27% or 0.26 points to 5.78 at the close. Societe Generale SA (EPA:SOGN) dropped 2.27% or 1.60 points to 68.76, and Schneider Electric SE (EPA:SCHN) finished down 2.18% or 5.75 points at 257.70.
SBF 120 highlights
Within the SBF 120, Mercialys SA (EPA:MERY) led gains, rising 3.11% to 11.94. Klepierre SA (EPA:LOIM) climbed 2.87% to 36.62, ending at a five-year high after a 2.87% or 1.02 point rise. Carmila SA (EPA:CARM) increased 2.80% to close at 16.88.
The weakest names on the SBF 120 included Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT), which fell 10.56% to 125.35 in late trade, Viridien SA (EPA:VIRI), which lost 5.93% to settle at 103.10, and Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM), down 4.27% to 5.78.
Market breadth and volatility
Decliners outnumbered advancers on the Paris exchange, with 294 stocks closing lower versus 185 that rose, while 82 ended unchanged. The CAC 40 VIX, which measures implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged on the day at 18.96 and registered a new 52-week high.
Commodities and currencies
Gold futures for August delivery were reported down 3.16% or 135.50 to $4,150.90 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery rose 2.99% or 2.64 to $90.84 a barrel, and the August Brent contract increased 2.61% or 2.39 to $93.84 a barrel.
In foreign exchange, EUR/USD was essentially unchanged, moving 0.07% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP was flat at 0.86 with a 0.05% change. The US Dollar Index futures traded marginally higher, up 0.01% at 99.89.
Takeaway
Wednesday's session closed with both the CAC 40 and SBF 120 down 0.51%, driven in part by sector losses in Technology, Healthcare and Industrials. Several individual stocks posted notable moves in both directions, and volatility—as measured by the CAC 40 VIX—reached a 52-week high.