The CAC 40 Index Opens 1.24% Higher

The CAC 40 climbed 1.2% to 8,157 on Wednesday, extending gains from the previous session as an improving geopolitical backdrop and upbeat corporate earnings buoyed investor sentiment. US President Trump signaled a pause in efforts to assist stranded vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, citing ongoing diplomatic discussions with Iran. He added that “great progress” had been made toward a potential peace agreement, helping to calm concerns over disruptions in a key global energy corridor. On the corporate front, AXA gained 2.1% after reporting solid Q1 growth and expressing confidence in achieving FY earnings targets. Financial peers followed suit, particularly BNP Paribas (2.3%), Crédit Agricole (2.6%), and Société Générale (2.5%). Luxury heavyweights also performed well, including LVMH (1.3%), Hermès (0.8%), and Kering (1.4%). Meanwhile, industrial output rose 1% month-on-month in March, surpassing expectations of a 0.5% increase and rebounding from a revised 0.9% drop in February.

The CAC 40 Index is up by 100 points or 1.24 percent on Wednesday. Top gainers are Safran (3.82%), AXA (3.30%) and Bouygues (3.26%).

The CAC 40 rose 1.1% to close at 8,062 on Tuesday, as investors focused on corporate earnings. Axa gained 0.5% after reporting a strong start to 2026, with gross written premiums and other revenue up 6% year-on-year to €38.0 billion in Q1. Vicat rose 2% after posting higher sales and reaffirming its 2026 outlook, while Saint-Gobain added 1.1% on plans to sell part of its distribution business. Other gains included LVMH (+1.3%), Schneider Electric (+4.8%), and Orange (+1.3%). On the downside, Sanofi dropped 4.7% after announcing a $294 million AI investment. Beneteau fell 2.4% despite Q1 revenue growth, as weaker order intake tied to Middle East uncertainty weighed on its outlook.