The CAC 40 Index Opens 0.70% Lower

The CAC 40 slipped 0.7% to 7,791 on Thursday, breaking a three-day winning streak as investors wrestled with mixed signals of de-escalation in Middle East tensions. US President Donald Trump insisted Iran remains open to a deal, even as Tehran rejected a ceasefire, proposed its own plan, and said it has no intention of negotiating. The market was further pressured by hawkish ECB signals. Policymaker Joachim Nagel said the bank has the option to raise rates at its April meeting, while President Christine Lagarde warned that the ECB could act if Middle East tensions push eurozone inflation higher. Domestically, industry (99 vs. 102 in February) and consumer (89 vs. 91) confidence fell in March 2026, while households’ inflation expectations rose following the outbreak of the Iran conflict. Financial stocks were among the biggest laggards, with BNP Paribas down 0.9%, Crédit Agricole 0.7%, and Société Générale 1.1%.

The CAC 40 Index is dropping -55 points. Leading the losses are Edenred (-11.33%), ArcelorMittal (-2.93%) and Thales (-2.24%). Top gainers were Kering (1.94%), TP (0.61%) and TotalEnergies SE (0.61%).

The CAC 40 Index went up by 103 points or 1.33 percent on Wednesday to close at 7847 points. The rise was led by STMicroelectronics (4.41%), Thales (2.85%) and Sanofi (2.58%).