Paris stocks finished the trading day in negative territory on Thursday as weakness in Utilities, Oil & Gas and Financials outweighed gains elsewhere.
At the close, the benchmark CAC 40 fell 0.29% while the broader SBF 120 slipped 0.27%.
Among CAC 40 constituents, ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) led the gainers, rising 3.09% - an increase of 1.47 points - to finish at 49.01. Publicis Groupe SA (EPA:PUBP) added 2.76% or 2.12 points to close at 78.80, and Legrand SA (EPA:LEGD) advanced 2.48% or 3.35 points to end the session at 138.20.
On the downside, Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM) posted the steepest decline on the CAC 40, falling 5.69% or 0.49 points to close at 8.17. Credit Agricole SA (EPA:CAGR) retreated 2.50% or 0.46 points to 17.72, and Engie SA (EPA:ENGIE) was down 2.04% or 0.53 points to 25.47.
Turning to the SBF 120, Aperam SA (AS:APAM) was the top performer with a 3.57% gain to 37.12. ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) was again among the session's leaders, up 3.09% to 49.01, and Lectra SA (EPA:LECS) rose 2.92% to close at 22.90.
The laggards on the SBF 120 included Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM), which fell 5.69% to 8.17, Elior Group (EPA:ELIOR) which declined 5.45% to settle at 2.81, and Forvia (EPA:FRVIA) which lost 3.25% to close at 14.14.
Market breadth on the Paris exchange tilted toward decliners, with 290 stocks falling versus 185 advancing. A total of 93 issues finished unchanged.
Shares of ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) moved to five-year highs, finishing up 3.09% or 1.47 points at 49.01.
The CAC 40 VIX, the index that reflects implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged at 18.96, marking a new 52-week high.
Commodities saw notable moves: Gold futures for April delivery fell 1.04% or 51.40 to $4,899.40 per troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for March delivery dropped 2.49% or $1.62 to $63.52 a barrel, while the April Brent contract decreased 2.48% or $1.72 to trade at $67.74 a barrel.
In currency markets, the euro was steady against the dollar, with EUR/USD effectively unchanged at 1.18, while EUR/GBP rose 0.78% to 0.87. The US Dollar Index Futures moved higher by 0.17% to 97.65.
Summary of session highlights:
- CAC 40 closed down 0.29%; SBF 120 down 0.27%.
- Top CAC winners: ArcelorMittal SA (AS:MT) +3.09% to 49.01, Publicis Groupe SA (EPA:PUBP) +2.76% to 78.80, Legrand SA (EPA:LEGD) +2.48% to 138.20.
- Top CAC losers: Stellantis NV (EPA:STLAM) -5.69% to 8.17, Credit Agricole SA (EPA:CAGR) -2.50% to 17.72, Engie SA (EPA:ENGIE) -2.04% to 25.47.
- SBF 120 movers included Aperam SA (AS:APAM) +3.57% to 37.12 and Lectra SA (EPA:LECS) +2.92% to 22.90; Elior Group (EPA:ELIOR) -5.45% to 2.81 and Forvia (EPA:FRVIA) -3.25% to 14.14 were among the weakest.
- Market breadth: 290 decliners, 185 advancers, 93 unchanged.
- CAC 40 VIX unchanged at 18.96 - a 52-week high.
- Commodities: April gold -1.04% to $4,899.40/oz; March crude -2.49% to $63.52/bbl; April Brent -2.48% to $67.74/bbl.
- FX and rates: EUR/USD 1.18 (unchanged), EUR/GBP 0.87 (+0.78%), US Dollar Index Futures 97.65 (+0.17%).
This session reflects mixed investor interest across industrials and consumer sectors, while energy, utilities and banking names weighed on overall indices.