France: CAC 40 Closes at Record High.

The CAC 40 rose 0.5% to close at 8,362, matching its January 9th record high as strength in financials and rate-sensitive names offset mixed sector performance. Banks led the advance, with BNP Paribas up 1.7%, Societe Generale jumping 2.7%, and AXA adding 2.7%, supported by solid earnings momentum and a still-favorable rate backdrop. Real estate stocks also outperformed, with Unibail-Rodamco up 3%, as easing inflation expectations reinforced the outlook for more accommodative financing conditions. In luxury, LVMH gained 1.8% and L’Oreal rose 1.4%, counterbalancing a modest pullback in Hermes. Industrial and defense names were softer, with Thales and Dassault Aviation down over 2% each. While geopolitical developments, including US-Iran talks, remain on the radar, investors are primarily focused on upcoming final inflation readings for clearer signals on France’s economic and policy trajectory.