French Stocks Hit Fresh Record High

2026-02-20 08:56 By Czyrill Jean Coloma 1 min. read

The CAC 40 rose 0.7% to a fresh record high of 8,457 on Friday and on track for a third consecutive weekly gain, as investors largely shrugged off escalating US–Iran tensions.

President Donald Trump issued a fresh ultimatum to Iran, warning that the next 10 days would determine whether an agreement can be reached.

Meanwhile, market attention focused on upcoming economic indicators in Europe and US.

In France, flash estimates showed the composite PMI rose to 49.9 in February 2026, with manufacturing activity remaining in expansion territory while the services PMI continued to fall.

On the corporate front, Air Liquide gained 2.5% to a three-month high after reporting a 6.4% increase in net profit for 2025, while revenue rose 2% on a comparable basis.

Luxury stocks also supported the index, with LVMH and Hermes adding 2.6% and 1.4%, respectively.

In contrast, Danone fell 1.1% despite posting a 4.5% like-for-like increase in 2025 sales and expressing confidence for 2026.



News Stream
The CAC 40 Index Closes 1.35% Higher
The CAC 40 Index gained 113 points or 1.35 percent on Friday to close at 8512 points. Gains were led by Air Liquide (4.68%), LVMH (4.55%) and Pernod Ricard (3.90%).
2026-02-20
CAC 40 Closes Week at Historic High
The CAC 40 surged 1.4% to a record 8,516 on Friday, capping its best week since early January after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s global tariffs. The 6-3 ruling, which found the use of emergency powers to bypass Congress unconstitutional, sparked a massive relief rally in trade-sensitive luxury giants with LVMH jumping 4.4% and Hermes climbing 3.6%. Industrials also flourished on the news as Airbus rose 1.4% and Saint-Gobain added 3.1%. On the earnings front, Air Liquide surged 4.6% after reporting a 6.4% rise in 2025 net profit and raising its margin targets through 2027. This corporate optimism helped investors overlook mixed macro data, including a February composite PMI of 49.9 which signaled near-stagnation in the private sector. While energy major TotalEnergies fell 1.5% as oil prices cooled, banks like Societe Generale and BNP Paribas gained roughly 1% on the broader market strength. The index finished the week up approximately 1.3%.
2026-02-20
French Stocks Hit Fresh Record High
The CAC 40 rose 0.7% to a fresh record high of 8,457 on Friday and on track for a third consecutive weekly gain, as investors largely shrugged off escalating US–Iran tensions. President Donald Trump issued a fresh ultimatum to Iran, warning that the next 10 days would determine whether an agreement can be reached. Meanwhile, market attention focused on upcoming economic indicators in Europe and US. In France, flash estimates showed the composite PMI rose to 49.9 in February 2026, with manufacturing activity remaining in expansion territory while the services PMI continued to fall. On the corporate front, Air Liquide gained 2.5% to a three-month high after reporting a 6.4% increase in net profit for 2025, while revenue rose 2% on a comparable basis. Luxury stocks also supported the index, with LVMH and Hermes adding 2.6% and 1.4%, respectively. In contrast, Danone fell 1.1% despite posting a 4.5% like-for-like increase in 2025 sales and expressing confidence for 2026.
2026-02-20