The CAC 40 Index Opens 0.38% Lower

The CAC 40 fell 0.3% to 8,096 on Thursday, trimming gains from the previous session as investors weighed the latest PMI data while assessing recent developments in the U.S.-Iran peace negotiations. Preliminary estimates showed that the composite PMI dropped sharply to 43.5 in May 2026 from 47.6 in April, coming in well below market expectations of 47.7. The downturn was driven by a steeper decline in services activity (42.9 vs 46.5) and a renewed contraction in manufacturing activity (48.9 vs 52.8), indicating deteriorating demand conditions amid mounting cost pressures linked to elevated energy prices caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Recent developments showed that Iran was reviewing Washington’s latest proposal to ease tensions after President Trump expressed willingness to give Tehran several more days to provide “ the right answers. Among individual stocks, major decliners included Hermès (-1.0%), Airbus (-2.5%), Vinci (-1.0%), and Société Générale (-1.7%).

The CAC 40 Index is dropping 31 points. Leading the losses are Airbus (-2.83%), Societe Generale (-2.35%) and BNP Paribas (-1.67%). Top gainers were Publicis (1.34%), Stellantis NV (0.97%) and Edenred (0.74%).

The CAC 40 Index went up by 167 points or 2.09 percent on Wednesday to close at 8149 points. The rise was led by STMicroelectronics (6.69%), ArcelorMittal (4.96%) and Societe Generale (4.56%).