The benchmark CAC 40 of the French stock market is firmly in positive territory just past noon on Wednesday, as several shares exhibit a strong rebound following two consecutive days of significant declines. The announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the U.S. Navy’s plan to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at protecting maritime trade in the Gulf and contributing to the stabilization of rising global energy prices, is providing a slight boost to sentiment.

The U.S. Development Finance Corporation has affirmed its preparedness to provide political risk insurance and guarantees for energy shipments transiting the Gulf. The CAC 40 increased by 82.88 points, reflecting a rise of 1.02%, reaching a level of 8,186.71 shortly after noon.

• Stellantis has experienced a 4.5% increase, positioning it as the leading performer within the index.
• Accor, having experienced significant losses in the prior two sessions, has seen an increase of 4%.
• Societe Generale is experiencing an increase of approximately 3.2%, whereas STMicroelectronics is seeing a rise of 3%.
• Danone, Schneider Electric, ArcelorMittal, EssilorLuxottica, L’Oreal, BNP Paribas, Engie, and Legrand are experiencing gains in the range of 1.8% to 2.9%.
• Safran, Michelin, Bureau Veritas, Hermes International, Veolia Environment, Eurofins Scientific, Eiffage, Vinci, Airbus, and Kering have experienced increases ranging from 1% to 1.6%.
• TotalEnergies is experiencing a decline of approximately 1.2%.
• Pernod Ricard, Orange, Capgemini, Dassault Systemes, and Air Liquide have experienced declines ranging from 0.3% to 0.6%.

In economic news, the HCOB France Composite PMI for January 2026 registered at 49.9 in February 2026, aligning with the preliminary estimate and reflecting an increase from 49.1 in the previous month. The data indicated that French private sector activity exhibited considerable stagnation in February, as ongoing uncertainty continued to impact demand. The services PMI increased to 49.6, yet it continues to fall short of the 50 mark, indicating persistent contraction relative to January’s figure of 48.4. Data indicated a decline in the jobless rate, which decreased to a seasonally adjusted 6.1% from 6.2% in December. The expectation is that the rate will hold steady at 6.2%. Recent data indicated that the unemployment rate in the EU27 registered at 5.8%, a slight decrease from 5.9% in December.

The HCOB Eurozone Composite PMI increased to 51.9 in February 2026, rising from 51.3 in January, indicating the most robust growth in private sector activity observed over the past three months. The HCOB Eurozone Services PMI rose to 51.9 in February of 2026, up from 51.6 in the prior month, marginally surpassing the preliminary estimate of 51.8 and aligning with initial market expectations. In January 2026, industrial producer prices in the Euro Area experienced a month-over-month increase of 0.7%, effectively reversing the 0.3% decline observed in December and exceeding market expectations, which had anticipated a 0.2% rise. Producer prices decreased by 2.1% on an annual basis, following a 2.0% year-on-year decline in December.