French Stocks Edge Lower
2026-03-30 07:43
By
Czyrill Jean Coloma
1 min. read
The CAC 40 edged lower to trade around 7,695 on Monday, trimming gains from the previous week as market sentiment remained cautious amid renewed escalation in the Middle East conflict.
Pakistan recently signaled it was preparing to host “meaningful talks” in the coming days aimed at ending the conflict.
However, the United States has increased its ground troop presence in the region, while Yemen’s Houthi forces reportedly launched their first attacks on Israel.
The conflict has now entered its fifth week, with investors increasingly bracing for a prolonged crisis.
The latest developments prompted a surge in oil prices, adding to market concerns and stoking fears of persistent inflation and slower economic growth.
Financial stocks posted losses, particularly BNP Paribas (-0.8%), Crédit Agricole (-0.3%), and Société Générale (-0.8%).
In contrast, notable performers included EssilorLuxottica, Engie, and Publicis Groupe, all up 1.2%.