French Stocks Post 3rd Straight Loss
2026-07-08 07:42
By
Czyrill Jean Coloma
1 min. read
The CAC 40 fell 0.7% to around 8,379 on Wednesday, extending its decline to a third straight session as investors grappled with mounting political uncertainty in France and renewed tensions in the Middle East.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen confirmed her intention to mount a fourth presidential campaign despite legal challenges stemming from her conviction for the misuse of public funds.
Recent polls show her party, National Rally, leading voter preferences, with its candidate widely expected to reach the second-round runoff, while the race to succeed Emmanuel Macron remains open and fragmented.
Adding to the cautious sentiment, the US carried out fresh airstrikes and revoked a sanctions waiver that had allowed Iran to export oil globally.
Luxury stocks were among the weakest performers, with LVMH falling 0.9%, Hermès losing 1.7%, and Kering declining 1.3%.
Financial shares also came under pressure, led by BNP Paribas (-2.1%), Crédit Agricole (-1.6%), and Société Générale (-2.4%).