CAC 40 Gains Momentum, Nears 8,030 Points Driven by Cyclical Stocks

A Strong European Session, Disconnected from Wall Street

Paris is moving in tandem with European markets, with the STOXX 600 up by 0.55% and the DAX jumping by 1.08% to 24,249.90 points. In contrast, there’s a more cautious atmosphere across the Atlantic: the Dow Jones lost 1.13% at the previous close and the S&P 500 fell by 0.41%. The contrast is also marked with London, where the FTSE 100 is down 0.96%, weighed down by its composition more exposed to commodities.

The energy context remains in the background: Brent crude is hovering around 113 dollars per barrel, amid persistent tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. This environment of high oil prices does not seem to weigh on the mood of Parisian investors midday, who are more driven by domestic and industrial stocks.

Schneider, Orange and Car Dealers Lead the Way

At the top of the chart, Schneider Electric takes the lead with a 2.46% gain at 266.95 euros, leading the CAC 40. The energy management specialist is pushing the index upwards.

Right behind, Orange is up 2.40% at 18.11 euros. The telecom operator benefits from an upgrade from Goldman Sachs, which shifts its recommendation from « neutral » to « buy » and raises its price target from 17.50 to 21.60 euros, a significant revision that captures the market’s attention.

The section of concessionaires and construction showcases a collective performance: Eiffage climbs 2.27% to 137.50 euros, Bouygues rises 2.16% to 50.50 euros, and Vinci gains 1.99% to 128.30 euros. The three stocks advance together, giving the session a distinct « infrastructure » tone.

A Few Rare Declines: Capgemini, Danone, and Renault Against the Trend

The declines can be summed up to a handful of stocks, with limited movement in their prices. Capgemini is down 0.80% to 105.25 euros, despite Alphavalue maintaining its buy rating and slightly raising its target price from 134 to 136 euros. Danone is down 0.77% to 64.70 euros, without any identified catalyst.

Renault is down 0.64% to 29.36 euros. The automaker reported a 5.27% drop in registrations in France for April, with 45,325 units sold throughout the month, as detailed in a published note. Simultaneously, the group announced the introduction of a new Eco-G 120 hp engine for the Clio, priced from 21,900 euros. Carrefour is slightly down 0.06 points to 16.79 euros, in a nearly unchanged movement. Stellantis, sometimes mentioned among the day’s declines, is actually slightly in the green (+0.11% to 6.14 euros), following an upgrade from Alphavalue from « sell » to « reduce, » with the price target increased from 5.97 to 6.10 euros.