The CAC 40 Index Opens 0.37% Lower

The CAC 40 Index dropped 42 points or 0.51 percent on Thursday to close at 8082 points. Losses were led by Stellantis NV (-3.56%), Societe Generale (-3.54%) and Essilor (-2.83%). Offsetting the fall, top gainers were Eurofins Scientific SE (2.05%), TotalEnergies SE (2.03%) and AXA (1.18%).

The CAC 40 fell 0.5% to close at 8,081 on Thursday, as a sharp rise in global government bond yields weighed on stock markets. The Euro Area 10-year bond yield reached its highest level since late 2011, while France’s 10-year OAT yield rose to a new 18-year high as energy-driven inflation concerns persisted. Crude oil rose amid heightened Middle East tensions, while strong US economic data released yesterday drove US yields higher, intensifying the global move amid expectations of another Fed hike this year. Financial stocks were mostly lower, with Société Générale falling 3.3%. Industrials also posted sharp losses, with Schneider Electric shedding 1.2%, EssilorLuxottica falling 3.5%, Thales down 2.7%, and STMicroelectronics losing 2.7%. Heavyweight luxury stocks were mostly muted. In contrast, TotalEnergies rose 1.8%. France’s consumer confidence index held steady at 86 in September, above forecasts of 85 but remaining below its long-term average of 100.

The CAC 40 fell 0.4% to 8,095 on Thursday, extending losses from the previous session as investors remained cautious amid the lack of tangible progress in US-Iran talks. Tensions remained elevated between the US and Iran as diplomatic talks showed little sign of a breakthrough, driving oil prices higher and keeping bond yields near multi-year highs. Elsewhere, investors monitored the US-China trade truce after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two economies had agreed to extend the agreement by two months, though Beijing has yet to confirm. Domestically, the consumer confidence index held steady at 86 in September, exceeding the forecast of 85 but remaining well below its long-term average of 100. Meanwhile, the manufacturing business climate indicator was unchanged at 101, matching August's revised reading but falling short of forecasts for 102. Among the biggest decliners were BNP Paribas (-3.6%), STMicroelectronics (-1.3%), and Stellantis (-1.5%).