The CAC 40 Index Closes 0.66% Higher

The CAC 40 rose 0.8% to close at 7,935 on Thursday, supported by gains in luxury and industrial stocks. Luxury shares rebounded after Chinese trade data showed imports rising 31% year-on-year in September to a record high, suggesting that Chinese consumer demand has not collapsed, contrary to concerns raised by LVMH’s recent results. LVMH rose 2.2%, Hermès gained 3.3%, Kering added 1.3%, and L’Oréal advanced 3.2%. Industrial stocks also gained, with defense contractors leading as the conflict in the Middle East showed no sign of easing. Airbus rose 2.4%, while Thales gained 1.3%. In contrast, Schneider Electric fell 2.4% and STMicroelectronics dropped 3.8%, tracking a selloff in US semiconductor stocks. Financial stocks were mostly lower after French annual inflation rose to 3.4% in September on an EU-harmonized basis, its highest level since January 2024. BNP Paribas fell 0.7%, while Crédit Agricole lost 1%.

The CAC 40 Index rose 52 points or 0.66 percent on Thursday to close at 7925 points. Leading the gains are Capgemini (3.47%), Hermes International (3.09%) and Publicis (3.05%). Top losers were STMicroelectronics (-4.09%), Schneider Electric (-2.45%) and Credit Agricole (-1.01%).

The CAC 40 rose 0.3% to 7,896 on Thursday, extending gains from the previous session despite a deepening global selloff in technology and artificial intelligence stocks. The sector came under pressure as concerns over AI-related valuations and the sustainability of heavy infrastructure spending weighed on sentiment. Inflation also remained in focus following stronger-than-expected US data. Domestically, annual inflation rate was revised up to 3.1% in September 2026 from a preliminary estimate of 3.0%, accelerating from 2.4% in August and reaching its highest level since January 2024. On the corporate front, Pernod Ricard climbed 3.4% after reporting a smaller-than-expected 0.9% decline in first-quarter fiscal 2027 sales, as weak demand and destocking in China and the United States were partly offset by strong demand in India. On the downside, Schneider Electric fell 5% and STMicroelectronics plunged 7.2%, making them among the session’s worst performers.