On Thursday morning, France’s equity index CAC 40 experienced an upward movement, bolstered by a series of positive earnings reports. Although it has retraced some of its earlier gains, the index continues to hold a solid position in positive territory as of recent observations. Market participants processed the Federal Reserve’s resolution to maintain interest rates. Geopolitical developments were also a focal point. The CAC 40, having reached a peak of 8,145.44 earlier, recorded an increase of 51.98 points, translating to a rise of 0.64%, settling at 8,118.66 just before noon.

• Schneider Electric experienced an increase of over 3%, while Legrand saw a rise of nearly 3%.
• STMicroElectronics experienced an increase of 2.1%, following the chipmaker’s projection of first-quarter revenue that slightly exceeds market expectations.
• ArcelorMittal, TotalEnergies, Pernod Ricard, and EssilorLuxottica experienced increases ranging from 1.3% to 1.6%.
• Michelin experienced an increase of nearly 1%, whereas Engie, Danone, Orange, AXA, and Societe Generale recorded modest gains.
• Shares of the spirits manufacturer experienced an increase of over 8%, although they subsequently relinquished a significant portion of those gains.

The stock experienced an upward movement following the company’s third-quarter sales, which surpassed consensus expectations regarding organic growth. Among the underperformers, Eurofins Scientific declined by 4.7%. Dassault Systemes and Capgemini experienced declines of 2.2% and 2.1%, respectively. Publicis Groupe experienced a decline of 1.5%, while Saint Gobain saw a decrease of 1.1%. Sanofi experienced a decline of approximately 0.7%. The pharmaceutical giant disclosed a loss in its fourth quarter, contrasting with the profit recorded in the previous year, even as net sales increased. In the outlook for fiscal 2026, the company anticipates sustained profitable growth.

In 2026, sales are projected to increase by a high single-digit percentage at constant exchange rates, while business earnings per share at constant exchange rates are anticipated to grow at a slightly faster pace than sales, resulting in profitable growth. Additionally, the Board of Directors has put forth a proposal for a dividend of 4.12 euros for 2025, reflecting a 5.1% increase from the previous year, pending approval by shareholders at the annual general meeting scheduled for April 29, 2026. Sanofi announced its intention to implement a share buyback program in 2026, amounting to 1 billion euros. Danone, Hermes International, Sanofi, Thales, Euronext, Stellantis, and BNP Paribas experienced declines ranging from 0.3% to 1%.

In recent economic developments, the European Commission has reported that the Eurozone Economic Sentiment Indicator increased to 99.4 in January 2026, reflecting a rise of 2.2 points from a revised figure of 97.2 in December 2025. This marks the highest level observed since January 2023. Consumer confidence exhibited notable improvement, attaining a level of -12.4, the highest recorded since February 2025. Data indicated that lending to Eurozone businesses rose by 3% year-on-year, reaching a record €5.324 trillion in December 2025. This trend highlights a sustained recovery in credit demand, bolstered by the recent policy easing implemented by the European Central Bank.