French stocks experienced an uptick on Thursday, reflecting a reduction in worries regarding geopolitical tensions alongside sustained optimism surrounding corporate earnings. The positive progress in U.S.-Iran diplomatic efforts contributed to an uplift in sentiment. Iran announced that it has reached an agreement with Oman regarding a proposed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, raising expectations that the waterway may soon be reopened.

The benchmark CAC 40, which advanced to a new record high of 8,742.21, was up 55.60 points or approximately 0.65% at 8,724.90 around a quarter past noon.

• Hermes International experienced an increase exceeding 3%. Publicis Groupe advanced by 2.3%.
• Orange experienced an increase of 2.2%, while Thales saw a rise of nearly 2%.
• Accor, Credit Agricole, AXA, Kering, L’Oreal, Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, and TotalEnergies experienced an increase of 1% to 1.3%.
• Legrand, Safran, Saint-Gobain, Danone, LVMH, Michelin, EssilorLuxottica, Airbus, Renault, Pernod Ricard, and Dassault Systemes experienced gains ranging from 0.5% to 0.8%.
• STMicroelectronics, Schneider Electric, Air Liquide, and Carrefour experienced a decline ranging from 0.4% to 0.7%.

On the economic front, data from the statistical office INSEE indicated that private payroll employment in France decreased by 0.1% quarter-on-quarter, translating to a loss of 19,300 jobs, bringing the total to 21 million in the second quarter of 2026, consistent with expectations.

Data indicated that the S&P Global France Construction PMI increased to 41.5 in July, up from 38.2 in June, representing its highest level since February. Retail sales in the Euro zone experienced a decline of 0.3% in June, following a 0.4% rise in May. Retail sales were projected to increase by 0.1% in June.