CAC 40 Rises Ahead of ECB Meeting

2026-07-20 15:47 By Isabela Couto 1 min. read

The CAC 40 inched up to close at 8,340 on Monday ahead of the ECB's policy decision later this week.

Policymakers are widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged after last month's 25bp hike.

Investors will focus on guidance, with markets pricing in another rate increase in September.

Meanwhile, an ECB survey showed euro area firms expect slower growth in selling prices and wages, reinforcing evidence that the recent energy-driven inflation surge has yet to trigger meaningful second-round price effects.

Financials advanced, with BNP Paribas up 1.1%, Crédit Agricole adding 0.7%, and Société Générale gaining 0.7%.

Schneider Electric rose 1.1% and STMicroelectronics added 2.1%, tracking a rebound in US tech stocks.

Luxury shares traded mixed as risk aversion rose on escalating US-Iran tensions, with LVMH (-1.4%) and L'Oréal (-0.2%) down, while Hermès (+0.2%) and Kering (+0.6%) rose.

TotalEnergies (+0.9%), Thales (+0.7%), and BNP Paribas are set to report earnings on Thursday.



News Stream
The CAC 40 Index Closes 0.15% Higher
The CAC 40 Index gained 13 points or 0.15 percent on Monday to close at 8352 points. Gains were led by STMicroelectronics (5.54%), Dassault Systemes (1.45%) and Edenred (1.43%). Biggest losers were Saint-Gobain (-1.62%), LVMH (-1.45%) and Airbus (-1.31%).
2026-07-20
CAC 40 Rises Ahead of ECB Meeting
The CAC 40 inched up to close at 8,340 on Monday ahead of the ECB's policy decision later this week. Policymakers are widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged after last month's 25bp hike. Investors will focus on guidance, with markets pricing in another rate increase in September. Meanwhile, an ECB survey showed euro area firms expect slower growth in selling prices and wages, reinforcing evidence that the recent energy-driven inflation surge has yet to trigger meaningful second-round price effects. Financials advanced, with BNP Paribas up 1.1%, Crédit Agricole adding 0.7%, and Société Générale gaining 0.7%. Schneider Electric rose 1.1% and STMicroelectronics added 2.1%, tracking a rebound in US tech stocks. Luxury shares traded mixed as risk aversion rose on escalating US-Iran tensions, with LVMH (-1.4%) and L'Oréal (-0.2%) down, while Hermès (+0.2%) and Kering (+0.6%) rose. TotalEnergies (+0.9%), Thales (+0.7%), and BNP Paribas are set to report earnings on Thursday.
2026-07-20
French Stocks Little Changed
The CAC 40 traded little changed around 8,342 on Monday, opening the week on a cautious footing as investors weighed renewed upward pressure on oil prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The conflict intensified after the US carried out a ninth consecutive day of strikes against Iran, while Tehran responded with attacks on targets across the region. The latest developments underscored the fragility of the ceasefire reached last month, raising concerns that a prolonged conflict could disrupt energy supplies, fuel inflationary pressures, and complicate the outlook for interest rates. Among individual stocks, LVMH (-0.6%), Airbus (-1.5%), Safran (-1.4%), and AXA (-0.5%) declined. In contrast, energy giant TotalEnergies advanced 1.7%, benefiting from the sharp rise in crude oil prices.
2026-07-20