CAC 40: Carrefour Soars Nearly 5% Mid-Morning, Paris Benefits from Oil Decline

A Morning Boosted by Energy Easing

The Parisian atmosphere is benefiting from a relative calm on the geopolitical front. Following a new round of talks in Doha, Brent crude prices have fallen back to their four-month lows, around $71 to $72 per barrel, as shipments via Hormuz have partially resumed. This decline in crude, coupled with harmonized inflation returning to 2.0% in France in June according to INSEE, is fostering a constructive tone on European markets.

This movement extends beyond France's borders: the DAX is up 0.43% in Frankfurt, the FTSE 100 is advancing 0.46% in London, and the STOXX 600 is progressing 0.51%. However, Wall Street had slightly dipped the previous day, with the S&P 500 losing 0.22% and the Nasdaq 0.66%, which tempers enthusiasm without reversing it. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 dropped 2.47% at the close.

Carrefour, ArcelorMittal and Defense Lead the Way

Leading the rankings, Carrefour jumps 4.84% to 16.46 euros. The retailer has finalized the sale of its Romanian operations to Paval Holding and announced a special dividend payment of 150 million euros, a move welcomed by the market as part of the group's refocusing strategy.

ArcelorMittal follows with a gain of 3.69% to 53.96 euros, while Pernod Ricard rebounds by 2.61% to 63.60 euros. Euronext rises 2.27% to 144.10 euros. The defense sector remains well-oriented: Thales advances 2.22% to 234.50 euros, continuing its momentum in a geopolitical environment that remains uncertain despite temporary relief in energy markets.

Renault Slumps, Schneider Electric Under Pressure

At the bottom of the table, Renault drops by 3.23% to 25.43 euros. Although the automaker asserted its position as the number one in the French automotive market for the first half of 2026, the June figures released by the PFA show that the group is growing at a slower pace than the overall market, which is up by 8.4% for the month, mechanically impacting its market share.

Schneider Electric falls by 0.94% to 274.05 euros, digesting the announcement of the acquisition of Cognite for 3.1 billion dollars aimed at strengthening its subsidiary AVEVA, as well as a bond issuance of 1.5 billion euros. Other technology and electrical stocks follow suit: Dassault Systèmes sheds 1.31%, Legrand 1.21%, and Capgemini 0.88%. This targeted decline stands in contrast to the general tone of the morning.