Paris equities ended Thursday's session in negative territory as declines among stocks in the Consumer Services, Financials and Utilities sectors pulled the major indexes down.
At the close in Paris the benchmark CAC 40 slipped 0.23%, while the broader SBF 120 finished down 0.11%.
Among CAC 40 constituents, STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) led gains, rising 3.19% or 1.85 points to finish at 59.80. Thales (EPA:TCFP) added 2.74% or 6.40 points to end the session at 239.60, and Airbus Group SE (EPA:AIR) climbed 2.30% or 4.00 points to 177.70.
On the other side of the ledger, Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) was the biggest decliner on the CAC 40, falling 5.67% or 1.12 points to close at 18.65. Pernod Ricard SA (EPA:PERP) lost 2.22% or 1.46 points to finish at 64.42, and AXA SA (EPA:AXAF) declined 2.10% or 0.85 points to 39.72.
The SBF 120 displayed a wider range of moves. Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) posted the session's most pronounced advance, jumping 24.64% to 192.20. Mersen (EPA:CBLP) rose 6.23% to settle at 42.98, while Eutelsat Communications SA (EPA:ETL) gained 5.82% to close at 4.51.
Conversely, Atos SE (EPA:ATOS) was among the heaviest decliners on the SBF 120, down 6.32% to 39.46. Dassault Systemes SE (EPA:DAST) again registered a steep fall of 5.67% to 18.65, and X Fab Silicon Foundries EV (EPA:XFAB) dropped 5.33% to 11.36 by the close.
Market breadth on the Paris exchange was narrowly negative: 238 stocks fell versus 236 that advanced, while 80 issues finished unchanged.
Several names reached notable price milestones during the session. Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) climbed to a three-year high, gaining 24.64% or 38.00 points to 192.20. Mersen (EPA:CBLP) reached a 52-week high, rising 6.23% or 2.52 points to 42.98. Eutelsat Communications SA (EPA:ETL) also hit a 52-week high, up 5.82% or 0.25 points to 4.51.
Measures of investor unease ticked higher. The CAC 40 VIX, which tracks implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged on the day at 18.96 but marked a new 52-week high for that index.
Commodity markets saw gains during the session. Gold futures for August delivery rose 0.71% or 31.65 to $4,513.15 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery increased 1.51% or 1.34 to $90.02 a barrel, while the August Brent contract climbed 1.15% or 1.06 to trade at $93.31 a barrel.
In foreign exchange trading, EUR/USD was unchanged, moving 0.21% to 1.16, and EUR/GBP was effectively flat, changing 0.07% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures eased 0.17% to 98.98.
Summary of session metrics and notable movers:
- Indexes: CAC 40 -0.23%; SBF 120 -0.11%.
- Top CAC 40 gainers: STMicroelectronics NV +3.19% (59.80); Thales +2.74% (239.60); Airbus +2.30% (177.70).
- Top CAC 40 decliners: Dassault Systemes SE -5.67% (18.65); Pernod Ricard SA -2.22% (64.42); AXA SA -2.10% (39.72).
- SBF 120 extremes: Soitec +24.64% (192.20); Atos -6.32% (39.46); X Fab -5.33% (11.36).
- Breadth: 238 decliners, 236 advancers, 80 unchanged.
- Volatility: CAC 40 VIX at 18.96, a 52-week high.
- Commodities and FX: Gold (Aug) +0.71% to $4,513.15; Crude July +1.51% to $90.02; Brent Aug +1.15% to $93.31; EUR/USD 1.16; EUR/GBP 0.87; US Dollar Index Futures 98.98.
Investors assessing the market will note the narrow negative breadth, the presence of large single-stock moves on the SBF 120, and the elevated reading in the CAC 40 volatility measure.