France's equity benchmarks closed modestly higher on Friday as gains in Technology, Basic Materials and Industrials outpaced losses elsewhere.
At the close in Paris the CAC 40 climbed 0.37%, while the broader SBF 120 increased 0.42%.
Leading the CAC 40 advance was STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA), which rose 5.17% - gaining 2.85 points to finish at 57.93. Steelmaker ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) added 4.11%, or 2.24 points, to end at 56.78. Auto group Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM) also featured among the session's top performers, up 3.02% or 0.19 points to 6.51.
On the downside, energy major TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTEF) fell 2.01%, losing 1.61 points to close at 78.65. Consumer goods company Danone SA (EPA:DANO) declined 1.59%, down 1.00 point to 61.86, while construction and concessions group Eiffage SA (EPA:FOUG) slipped 1.31%, or 1.60 points, to finish at 121.00.
The SBF 120 displayed larger intraday moves among smaller-cap names. Ubisoft Entertainment (EPA:UBIP) jumped 12.95% to 5.28, and IT services firm Atos SE (EPA:ATOS) rose 7.22% to settle at 43.68. Semiconductor materials specialist Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) gained 6.45%, closing at 177.35.
Meanwhile the SBF 120's laggards included caterer Elior Group (EPA:ELIOR), which fell 4.07% to 1.98, energy heavyweight TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTEF) which lost 2.01% to settle at 78.65, and real estate investor ICADE (EPA:ICAD), down 1.84% to 20.22 at the close.
Market breadth in Paris was narrowly positive: rising stocks outnumbered decliners by 236 to 232, and 91 issues finished unchanged.
Several individual-stock milestones were recorded during the session. Shares of STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) reached five-year highs, gaining 5.17% or 2.85 to close at 57.93. Elior Group (EPA:ELIOR) fell to 52-week lows, down 4.07% or 0.08 to 1.98. Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) climbed to 52-week highs, up 6.45% or 10.75 to 177.35.
Volatility measures and commodities showed notable moves. The CAC 40 VIX, which tracks implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged on the day at 18.96 and registered a new 52-week high.
In commodities, Gold Futures for June delivery fell 0.50% or 22.55 to $4,519.95 a troy ounce. Crude oil for July delivery rose 0.74% or 0.71 to $97.06 a barrel, while the July Brent contract increased 0.97% or 0.99 to trade at $103.57 a barrel.
On the foreign exchange front EUR/USD was essentially flat, showing a 0.17% move to 1.16, while EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.86 with a 0.18% move reported. The US Dollar Index Futures ticked up 0.18% to 99.29.
Summary of session highlights:
- CAC 40: +0.37% at the close.
- SBF 120: +0.42% at the close.
- Top CAC 40 gainers: STMicroelectronics, ArcelorMittal, Stellantis.
- Top CAC 40 decliners: TotalEnergies, Danone, Eiffage.
- Notable SBF 120 moves: Ubisoft, Atos, Soitec higher; Elior and Icade lower.
The session closed with a narrowly positive breadth and mixed signals from volatility and commodity markets.