CAC 40 Falls on Middle East Tensions

The CAC 40 Index fell 62 points or 0.75 percent on Friday to close at 8165 points. Leading the losses are Stellantis NV (-4.65%), Thales (-4.16%) and Renault (-3.60%). Top gainers were STMicroelectronics (7.35%), Edenred (2.28%) and Dassault Systemes (1.71%).

The CAC 40 fell 0.8% to close at 8,158 on Friday, its first weekly decline after four consecutive weeks of gains as optimism surrounding a potential US–Iran peace agreement waned. US President Trump ordered the US Navy to "shoot and kill" Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, renewing concerns over energy supply disruptions. The luxury sector traded negative amid rising risk aversion, with Hermes losing 1.5% and LVMH down 0.7%. In the industrial sector, Saffran fell 3.2% and Airbus declined 1.3% despite Saffran reporting strong Q1 revenue and an upbeat full-year outlook. Sanofi slipped 2% despite solid Q1 results and reaffirmed guidance, while peer Essilor shed 3.2%. In contrast, TotalEnergies rose 0.5% supported by oil supply uncertainty amid ongoing geopolitical conflict.

The CAC 40 fell 0.8% to 8,163 on Friday, on track for its first weekly decline after four consecutive weeks of gains, as optimism surrounding a potential US–Iran peace agreement waned. President Trump ordered the US Navy to “shoot and kill” Iranian boats laying mines in the Strait, renewing concerns over energy supply disruptions. This development overshadowed a separate move in the Middle East, where Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. Domestically, the consumer confidence indicator fell to 84 in April 2026 from 89 in March, below market expectations of 88 and marking the lowest reading since May 2023. Meanwhile, attention also remained on earnings. Safran dropped 2.8% to its lowest level since July 2025, despite strong Q1 revenue and an upbeat full-year outlook. Sanofi also slipped 1.3% despite solid Q1 results and reaffirmed guidance. In contrast, TotalEnergies rose 1.4%, supported by higher energy prices amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.