On Thursday, April 17, 2025, France's equities experienced a decline, closing lower as significant losses in the Technology, Industrials, and Basic Materials sectors weighed heavily on market performance. The CAC 40 index fell by 0.60%, while the broader SBF 120 index decreased by 0.54% during the trading session.
The day's trading saw some notable movements among individual stocks. Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE (EPA:URW) emerged as one of the biggest gainers, rising 1.80% or 1.26 points to close at 71.40. Publicis Groupe SA (EPA:PUBP) also saw a positive uptick, adding 1.22% or 1.02 points to end at 84.84. AXA SA (EPA:AXAF) showed resilience, climbing 0.89% or 0.35 points to finish at 39.51.
Conversely, the session was marked by significant losses for several companies. Hermes International SCA (EPA:HRMS) faced a sharp decline, losing 3.22% or 76.00 points, closing at 2,287.00. Airbus Group SE (EPA:AIR) followed suit, declining by 2.88% or 4.04 points to end the day at 136.46. Compagnie de Saint Gobain SA (EPA:SGOB) also shed 2.61% or 2.32 points, closing at 86.58.
The SBF 120 index featured its own set of top performers, with Forvia (EPA:FRVIA) leading the pack with an impressive rise of 8.12%, closing at 6.37. Fnac Darty SA (EPA:FNAC) gained 2.98%, settling at 28.53, while Covivio SA (EPA:CVO) increased by 2.48%, closing at 50.85. However, the worst performers included Atos SE (EPA:ATOS), which remained unchanged at 7.69, Ipsen SA (EPA:IPN), which lost 4.32% to settle at 90.70, and Biomerieux SA (EPA:BIOX), down 3.89% to 113.70.
Overall, the Paris Stock Exchange saw a significant imbalance in trading activity, with declining stocks outnumbering advancing ones by 238 to 223, while 98 stocks ended the day unchanged. This trend indicates a cautious sentiment among investors amid the broader market decline.
In terms of volatility, the CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, remained unchanged at 0.00%, settling at 18.96, marking a new 52-week high. This level of volatility reflects ongoing uncertainty in the market.
Turning to commodities, Gold Futures for June delivery saw a downturn, decreasing by 1.05% or 35.29 to $3,311.11 a troy ounce. Meanwhile, crude oil prices experienced a boost, with May delivery crude rising 3.22% or 2.01 to reach $64.48 a barrel. The June Brent oil contract also rose, increasing by 2.95% or 1.94 to trade at $67.79 a barrel.
In foreign exchange markets, the EUR/USD exchange rate was unchanged at 0.36%, closing at 1.14, while the EUR/GBP rate also remained steady at 0.36%, settling at 0.86. The US Dollar Index Futures saw a slight increase, rising by 0.11% to 99.25.
Overall, the trading day in France reflects a complex interplay of market forces, with significant gains in certain sectors contrasting sharply with losses in others. Investors are likely to remain vigilant as they navigate these fluctuations in the coming days.