CAC 40 Falls Below 8,100 Points as Eiffage and Airbus See Notable Declines

A Parisian Stock Defying American Market Trends

Today's session is marked by a notable European downturn, while U.S. markets ended strongly on Wednesday. The Dow Jones climbed 1.31%, surpassing 50,000 points, and the Nasdaq surged 1.54% to reach 26,270 points. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 even soared 3.14% by the close. In Europe, the mood is quite different: the DAX is down 0.56%, the FTSE 100 by 0.44%, and the Stoxx 600 has shed 0.35%. The SBF 120 also declined, falling 0.44% to 6,141.79 points.
This divergence occurs amid a reassessment of monetary outlooks across the Atlantic, following the release of the Federal Reserve minutes on Wednesday evening which indicated a firmer stance on inflation. Meanwhile, oil prices are beginning to correct amidst hopes of a de-escalation between Washington and Tehran, reshaping the sector hierarchy in Paris.

Euronext Leads, Pernod Ricard and Sanofi Follow

At the top of the rankings, Euronext rises by 1.36% to 149.60 euros, the stock exchange operator benefiting from the follow-up on its quarterly results published on Tuesday. The group reported a 15.3% growth in underlying revenues to 528.5 million euros for the first quarter of 2026, driven notably by a 28.1% increase in the equity markets segment and the contribution from Euronext Athens. Goldman Sachs raised its price target from 143 to 153 euros, while BNP Paribas Exane adjusted its target from 119 to 125 euros.
Pernod Ricard progresses by 1.10% to 64.30 euros, and Sanofi gains 1.00% to 77.44 euros, the pharmaceutical company having announced early in the week positive phase 2 results for efdoralprin alfa in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Air Liquide (+0.99% to 178.78 euros) and TotalEnergies (+0.93% to 80.35 euros) round out the top five, in a movement that brings together rather defensive profiles.

Eiffage, Airbus, and Luxury Sector Drag Index Down

On the downside, Eiffage drops 2.95% to 123.30 euros, following Goldman Sachs' downgrade from « buy » to « neutral, » with a target set at 148 euros. Airbus closely follows, slipping 2.78% to 168.54 euros. The luxury sector is under pressure again: Kering loses 2.54% to 241.85 euros, as Avior Capital Markets reduces its price target from 266.35 to 253.29 euros while maintaining its « underperform » rating. Hermès International falls 1.88% to 1,591.50 euros, with the same brokerage slightly lowering its target on the stock. Société Générale declines 2.42% to 67.75 euros, highlighting the nervousness affecting the banking sector amid concerns about economic stability. The disparity between winners and losers, highly unfavorable at mid-session, reflects a cautious market, with no dominant sector rotation.