French Stocks Extend Monthly Gains
2026-05-29 07:41
By
Czyrill Jean Coloma
1 min. read
The CAC 40 rose 0.5% to 8,233 on Friday and was heading for a second consecutive monthly gain, supported by optimism over an extended ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.
Both countries had agreed to prolong the truce by 60 days to allow for formal negotiations and further discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, although US President Donald Trump has yet to formally approve the deal.
On the economic front, France's economy contracted by 0.1% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026, reversing a 0.2% expansion in the previous quarter and marking the first contraction since Q2 2020.
Preliminary data also showed annual inflation edged up to 2.4% in May from 2.2% in April, the highest since February 2024, driven largely by higher energy prices amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Financial stocks were among the top performers, including BNP Paribas (0.7%), Crédit Agricole (1.1%), and Société Générale (1.5%).
Other gainers included LVMH (0.7%), Airbus (1.4%), and Stellantis (1.8%).