The CAC 40 Index Closes 0.57% Higher

The CAC 40 rose 0.6% to close at 7,817 on Tuesday as the final session of March provided relief following reports that US President Trump is considering a diplomatic exit from the Middle East conflict. While regional volatility persisted after an Iranian strike on a Kuwaiti tanker near Dubai the potential for a cessation of military hostilities sparked a recovery across major European benchmarks. Domestically, preliminary estimates confirmed that French inflation hit an over one year high of 1.7% as energy shocks from the five week war trickled into the broader economy prompting ECB President Lagarde to maintain a hawkish policy outlook. Notable gains were seen in Edenred which surged 5.2% and defense giant Thales which climbed 2.4% while luxury leaders like LVMH and Hermes dropped roughly 0.8% amid shifting global sentiment. The CAC 40 concluded a volatile month with a decline of 8.9% as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to weigh on long term stability.

The CAC 40 Index went up by 44 points or 0.57 percent on Tuesday to close at 7817 points. The rise was led by Edenred (5.15%), Thales (2.80%) and Capgemini (2.68%). On the downside, the weakerst performers were Bureau Veritas (-3.10%), Pernod Ricard (-2.15%) and ENGIE (-0.54%).

The CAC 40 rose 0.6% to 7,819 on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session as investors assessed signs of a potential de-escalation in the Middle East conflict. Reports emerged that US President Trump said he would be willing to halt operations against Iran, even if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed. However, Iran struck a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai, underscoring persistent regional volatility. Domestically, preliminary estimates showed that the annual inflation rate climbed to an over one-year high of 1.7% in March 2026, driven by a strong rebound in energy prices, which reflect the impact of the war in the Middle East. Notable gains were recorded in Safran (1.2%), Sanofi (1.4%), AXA (1.2%) and Vinci (1.5%), while STMicroelectronics (-2.5%), Kering (-1.1%), and TotalEnergies (-1.3%) were among the decliners. Despite recent gains, the CAC 40 is set for a steep monthly decline, as the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to weigh heavily on investor sentiment.