CAC 40 Soars Almost 1% on Soft Eurozone Inflation

CAC Futures Updates

French stocks experienced an upward movement on Wednesday, buoyed by preliminary data indicating a slight easing of consumer prices in the Eurozone for January. Market participants are anticipating the forthcoming monetary policy announcement from the European Central Bank, scheduled for Thursday. The European Central Bank is anticipated to maintain its current interest rates. The monetary policy announcement from the Bank of England is scheduled for Thursday. Eurostat’s flash estimate indicated a moderation in Eurozone inflation for January, as the harmonized index of consumer prices experienced a 1.7% annual increase, down from a 2% rise in December. The rate aligned with projections.

In January, the HICP experienced a month-on-month decline of 0.5%. The benchmark CAC 40 increased by 77.97 points, reflecting a rise of 0.95%, reaching a level of 8,257.47 approximately thirty minutes after noon.

  • Renault experienced an increase exceeding 3%.
  • Air Liquide experienced an increase of nearly 3%, with Air Liquide and Orange rising by 2.9% and 2.7%, respectively.
  • Michelin, Pernod Ricard, Stellantis, L’Oreal, TotalEnergies, and Safran experienced increases ranging from 1.5% to 2.3%.
  • Accor, Vinci, Engie, AXA, Saint Gobain, Danone, Airbus, Unibail Rodamco, Bureau Veritas, Schneider Electric, Eiffage, and Hermes International experienced gains ranging from 1% to 1.5%.
  • Publicis Groupe experienced a decline exceeding 4%, marking a consecutive day of losses.
  • Credit Agricole experienced a decline of 3.1% following the announcement of a 39% decrease in fourth-quarter profit.
  • Capgemini experienced a decline of approximately 2.3%, and ArcelorMittal saw a decrease of 1.25%.
  • BNP Paribas and Societe Generale recorded slight losses.

Eurostat’s flash estimate indicated a moderation in Eurozone inflation for January, as the harmonized index of consumer prices experienced a 1.7% annual increase, down from a 2% rise in December. The rate aligned with projections. In January, the HICP experienced a month-on-month decline of 0.5%. Data indicated that the HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI decreased to 51.3 in January 2026, down from a revised figure of 51.5 in the preceding month and below the initial market expectations of 51.8.

The Services PMI registered at 51.6 for January, a decline from December’s 52.4, whereas the manufacturing PMI increased to 50.5 in January, up from December’s 48.9. The HCOB France Composite PMI for January 2026 was adjusted upward to 49.1 from an initial estimate of 48.6, yet it continued to fall short of December’s 50.0 mark. The HCOB France Services PMI decreased to 48.4 in January 2026, revised upward from the initial estimates of 47.9, in contrast to 50.1 in December.