The CAC 40 Index Closes 0.42% Lower

The CAC 40 Index dropped 35 points or 0.42 percent on Thursday to close at 8466 points. Losses were led by Stellantis NV (-3.88%), Kering (-3.52%) and LVMH (-2.46%). Offsetting the fall, top gainers were Eurofins Scientific SE (3.06%), Veolia (1.08%) and Michelin (1.03%).

The CAC 40 shed 0.6% to close at 8,453 on Thursday, extending its losing streak to an eighth consecutive session and hitting its lowest level in three weeks. Oil prices remained elevated after US President Donald Trump unveiled what he described as a “crushing economic operation” against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between the two countries. Geopolitical risks raised risk aversion, weighing on luxury stocks, while inflation concerns pressured financials. LVMH lost 2.4%, Hermes shed 1.4% and Kering tumbled 3.5% as concerns mounted over weakening demand in China, where increased scrutiny of offshore wealth and tax avoidance has curbed spending among high-net-worth consumers. BNP Paribas lost 0.6%, AXA shed 0.9% and Societe Generale retreated 0.6%. Industrials also posted losses, with Airbus down 1.4%, Safran losing 1.6% and Thales retreating 1.3%. In contrast, TotalEnergies added 1% on higher oil prices.

The CAC 40 edged lower to trade around 8,492 on Thursday, extending its losing streak to an eighth consecutive session and hitting its lowest level in three weeks as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Oil prices remained elevated after US President Donald Trump unveiled what he described as a “crushing economic operation” against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between the two countries, while Iran dismissed the measures as a political distraction from domestic US challenges. The decline came despite support from lower global bond yields after the US Treasury Department announced plans to at least double the size of its bond buyback program, boosting demand for government debt. On the corporate front, luxury stocks such as LVMH (-0.5%) and Hermès (-0.3%) declined as concerns mounted over weakening demand in China, where intensified scrutiny of offshore wealth and tax avoidance has curbed spending among high-net-worth consumers.