The CAC 40 Index Closes 1.13% Higher

The CAC 40 Index gained 92 points or 1.13 percent on Thursday to close at 8249 points. Gains were led by STMicroelectronics (13.18%), L'Oréal (9.10%) and Edenred (4.25%).

The CAC 40 rose 0.9% to close at 8,227 on Thursday, rebounding from two straight sessions of losses as investors focused on corporate earnings. L'Oréal soared 9%, hitting a one-month high and heading for its best daily performance since 2008 after reporting its fastest quarterly growth in two years. Safran gained 2.4% after stronger-than-expected Q1 revenue and signaling it expects to reach the upper end of its full-year guidance. Sanofi advanced 1.2%, supported by double-digit Q1 2026 sales growth. Orange and Saint-Gobain are scheduled to release results after the bell. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions remained a key overhang as Iran enforced it's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz while the US continues enforcing a blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports. Domestically, flash estimates showed the Composite PMI fell to 47.6 in April from 48.8 in March, dragged down by a further decline in services (46.5 vs 48.8), despite manufacturing growth (52.8 vs 50).

The CAC 40 rose 0.5% to 8,196 on Thursday, rebounding from two straight sessions of losses, as investors focused on corporate earnings while weighing escalating shipping risks in the Strait of Hormuz. L'Oréal soared 8.5%, hitting an over one-month high and heading for its best daily performance since 2008 after reporting its fastest quarterly growth in two years. Safran gained 1.9% after stronger-than-expected Q1 revenue and signaling it expects to reach the upper end of its FY guidance. Sanofi advanced 2.1%, also at a one-month high, supported by double-digit Q1 2026 sales growth. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions remained a key overhang, as Iranian forces reportedly fired on commercial vessels on Wednesday, while the US continues enforcing a blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports. Domestically, flash estimates showed the Composite PMI fell to 47.6 in April from 48.8 in March, dragged down by a further decline in services (46.5 vs 48.8), despite manufacturing growth (52.8 vs 50).