France's equity market closed lower on Thursday, with broad-based sector losses pushing benchmark indices into negative territory. At the Paris close the CAC 40 fell 1.64%, while the SBF 120 retreated 1.50%.
Among CAC 40 constituents, Thales (EPA:TCFP) was the session's top performer, rising 5.07% or 11.50 points to finish at 238.30. Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) advanced 3.74% or 0.67 points to close at 18.43, and TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTEF) added 2.54% or 1.89 points to end the day at 76.18.
By contrast, STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) recorded the largest drop on the CAC 40, sliding 17.72% or 10.33 points to finish at 47.95. Eurofins Scientific SE (EPA:EUFI) declined 6.32% or 4.46 points to close at 66.12, while Kering SA (EPA:PRTP) lost 4.77% or 11.95 points to end at 238.80.
On the SBF 120, Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) led gains with a 21.64% rise to 116.80. SEB SA (EPA:SEBF) climbed 12.86% to settle at 55.30, and Ipsos (EPA:ISOS) gained 8.15% to finish at 39.54. The largest declines on the SBF 120 included STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA), which was down 17.72% to 47.95, Ubisoft Entertainment (EPA:UBIP) which dropped 14.18% to settle at 4.72, and Inter Parfums Inc. (EPA:IPAR) which fell 9.82% to 23.50 at the close.
Market breadth was negative: falling issues outnumbered advancing ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 294 to 165, with 78 stocks unchanged.
Volatility and commodities
The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 0.00% to 18.96, marking a new 52-week high. Commodity markets saw marked moves in late trade: Gold Futures for August delivery was down 2.42% or 100.68 to $4,051.22 a troy ounce. Crude oil for September delivery rose 6.03% or 5.24 to $92.07 a barrel, while the September Brent oil contract increased 6.64% or 6.25 to trade at $100.32 a barrel.
In currency markets, EUR/USD was unchanged at 0.33% to 1.14, and EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.20% to 0.85. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.35% at 101.31.
Session snapshot - notable movers
- Top CAC 40 winners: Thales (EPA:TCFP) +5.07%, Dassault Systemes (EPA:DAST) +3.74%, TotalEnergies (EPA:TTEF) +2.54%.
- Largest CAC 40 decliners: STMicroelectronics (EPA:STMPA) -17.72%, Eurofins Scientific (EPA:EUFI) -6.32%, Kering (EPA:PRTP) -4.77%.
- Top SBF 120 performers: Soitec (EPA:SOIT) +21.64%, SEB (EPA:SEBF) +12.86%, Ipsos (EPA:ISOS) +8.15%.
- Biggest SBF 120 fallers: STMicroelectronics (EPA:STMPA) -17.72%, Ubisoft (EPA:UBIP) -14.18%, Inter Parfums (EPA:IPAR) -9.82%.
This session's activity left France's main indices lower and showed uneven performance across sectors, with technology, consumer goods and healthcare names among the drivers of the decline, while select industrials and energy names recorded gains.