French Stocks Gain on Strong Corporate Results

2026-07-31 15:46 By Isabela Couto 1 min. read

The CAC 40 gained 0.3% to close at 8,510 on Friday as investors assessed another round of corporate earnings and business updates.

Engie surged 5.3% after reporting strong first-half results and raising its 2026 guidance.

Crédit Agricole gained 2.5% after beating second-quarter expectations, while Saint-Gobain jumped 7% as the company returned to double-digit sales growth in the second quarter and reaffirmed its 2026 outlook.

TotalEnergies added 0.8% as oil prices extended gains.

Luxury stocks were mixed as persistent Middle East tensions weighed on risk sentiment.

LVMH rose 0.4%, while L'Oréal fell 1.8% and Hermès lost 1.1%.

On the data front, France's annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.1% in July from 1.8% in June, reinforcing the case for a more cautious ECB easing cycle.

Meanwhile, producer prices fell 0.6% month-over-month in June after a revised 0.2% decline in May.



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2026-07-31
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The CAC 40 gained 0.3% to close at 8,510 on Friday as investors assessed another round of corporate earnings and business updates. Engie surged 5.3% after reporting strong first-half results and raising its 2026 guidance. Crédit Agricole gained 2.5% after beating second-quarter expectations, while Saint-Gobain jumped 7% as the company returned to double-digit sales growth in the second quarter and reaffirmed its 2026 outlook. TotalEnergies added 0.8% as oil prices extended gains. Luxury stocks were mixed as persistent Middle East tensions weighed on risk sentiment. LVMH rose 0.4%, while L'Oréal fell 1.8% and Hermès lost 1.1%. On the data front, France's annual inflation rate accelerated to 2.1% in July from 1.8% in June, reinforcing the case for a more cautious ECB easing cycle. Meanwhile, producer prices fell 0.6% month-over-month in June after a revised 0.2% decline in May.
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