Air Liquide Leads CAC 40 Following Major Contract in South Korea Around AI
The industrial gas giant marks the highest increase in the Parisian index at mid-session, in an otherwise downward market. This movement comes after the announcement of a significant industrial contract in South Korea, following the rollout of the external growth strategy initiated earlier this year.
The Korean Contract with SK hynix Propels the Stock to the Top of the CAC 40
Air Liquide is up 2.15% at €180.34, leading the CAC 40 while the index is down 0.39%. This movement follows this morning's announcement of a major contract with SK hynix for the supply of nitrogen to the Korean's HBM memory chip packaging plant in Cheongju.
The project marks the first major milestone since the acquisition of DIG Airgas, finalized earlier this year, and cements the French group in the supply chain of advanced semiconductors for artificial intelligence. The timing is significant: Alphabet has confirmed a capital increase of $80 billion to fund its AI infrastructure, with expenditures that could reach $300 billion by 2027. The demand for HBM chips, central to data centers, is thus reinforced, which sheds light on the warm reception of the Korean contract.
The Stock Moves Above Its MM20 and Approaches MM50, Targeting Resistance at €188.36
Today's rebound brings the price back above the MM20 (€178.27, gap +1.16%) and in contact with the MM50 (€179.96), after several sessions of consolidation around the short averages. The MM200 remains well below, at €171.41, keeping the medium-term trend intact. The RSI at 45 sends no extreme signal, leaving room before the identified resistance at €188.36, a peak to reclaim to restart the bullish dynamic initiated at the beginning of the year.
The stock is still down 0.89% for the week and 1.5% for the month, indicating a breathing phase after the historic high recorded in April at €187.34. The next operational milestone followed by the market: the concrete implementation of synergies from DIG Airgas, of which the SK hynix contract provides a first tangible illustration.
