Stock Markets May 13, 2026 12:05 PM

Paris Shares Finish Higher as Tech, Materials and Utilities Lift Benchmarks

CAC 40 edges up 0.35% at Wednesday close; STMicroelectronics and Vallourec among the session's top gainers

By Jordan Park MT

Paris equities closed modestly higher on Wednesday with the CAC 40 up 0.35% and the broader SBF 120 gaining 0.41%. Strength in Technology, Basic Materials and Utilities supported the advance. Notable winners included STMicroelectronics, Vallourec and ArcelorMittal, while Capgemini, Danone and Eiffage were among the laggards. Market volatility as measured by the CAC 40 VIX was unchanged at a new 52-week high.

Paris Shares Finish Higher as Tech, Materials and Utilities Lift Benchmarks
MT

Key Points

  • CAC 40 closed up 0.35% and the SBF 120 gained 0.41% as Technology, Basic Materials and Utilities led sectors higher.
  • STMicroelectronics and Vallourec were among the largest gainers, each reaching five-year highs; Danone slipped to a 52-week low.
  • Market breadth was positive with 254 advancing stocks versus 223 decliners; the CAC 40 VIX was unchanged at a 52-week high of 18.96.

Stocks in Paris ended Wednesday's trading session with modest gains as advances in Technology, Basic Materials and Utilities helped lift the main indices.

At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 finished 0.35% higher, while the SBF 120 rose 0.41%.

Top movers on the CAC 40

  • STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) led the index's gainers, climbing 9.79% - a rise of 4.67 points - to close at 52.34.
  • ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) added 7.10%, or 3.64 points, finishing the day at 54.90.
  • Automaker Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM) increased 3.71%, or 0.23 points, to end at 6.48.

Lagging names on the CAC 40

  • Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) was the biggest decliner on the index, slipping 2.48% - a fall of 2.46 points - to 96.74 at the close.
  • Danone SA (EPA:DANO) dropped 2.13%, or 1.34 points, to finish at 61.44.
  • Eiffage SA (EPA:FOUG) fell 2.06%, a decline of 2.80 points, closing at 132.85.

SBF 120 highlights

  • Vallourec (EPA:VLLP) was the SBF 120's strongest performer, jumping 12.17% to close at 26.92.
  • STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) also ranked among the SBF 120 leaders, rising 9.79% to settle at 52.34.
  • Soitec SA (EPA:SOIT) gained 7.71% to end the session at 155.85.

On the downside in the SBF 120, Sopra Steria Group SA (EPA:SOPR) fell 3.36% to 129.50, Solutions 30 SE (EPA:S30) declined 2.82% to 0.62 and SES (EPA:SESFd) was down 2.74% to 7.64 at the close.

Broad market breadth on the Paris exchange was positive: 254 stocks rose, 223 fell and 87 were unchanged.

Several individual stock milestones were recorded during the session. Shares of STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) climbed to 5-year highs, gaining 9.79% to 52.34. Vallourec (EPA:VLLP) similarly rose to 5-year highs after a 12.17% advance to 26.92. By contrast, Danone SA (EPA:DANO) moved to 52-week lows, slipping 2.13% to 61.44.

The CAC 40 VIX, a gauge of implied volatility for CAC 40 options, was unchanged on the day at 18.96, marking a new 52-week high.

Commodities and FX

  • Gold Futures for June delivery rose 0.41%, or 19.39, to $4,706.09 a troy ounce.
  • Crude oil for June delivery inched up 0.03%, or 0.03, to $102.21 a barrel, while the July Brent contract declined 1.10%, or 1.19, to $106.58 a barrel.
  • On the currency front, EUR/USD was effectively unchanged at 1.17, moving 0.22%. EUR/GBP was unchanged at 0.87, moving 0.06%.
  • The US Dollar Index Futures increased 0.21% to 98.39.

Model-driven stock evaluation mention

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Market context summary

The Paris market's modest gains were supported by sizable moves in several large-cap Technology and Basic Materials names, while a mix of consumer and industrial stocks weighed on the downside. Volatility as measured by the CAC 40 VIX remained elevated, ending the day at a new 52-week high.

Risks

  • Elevated options-implied volatility - CAC 40 VIX at a new 52-week high - may signal greater uncertainty for equity markets, potentially affecting sectors sensitive to risk sentiment such as Technology and Basic Materials.
  • Individual stock downside risk highlighted by several declining large caps including Capgemini, Danone and Eiffage, which could weigh on sector performance in IT services, consumer staples and construction.
  • Commodities volatility with mixed moves in oil and a notable rise in Gold Futures could introduce cross-asset volatility impacting financials and commodity-linked industrial firms.

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