France: CAC 40 Edges Up on Middle East Peace Hopes.

The CAC 40 edged up 0.2% to close at 8,260 on Friday as investors maintained cautious optimism ahead of US-Iran diplomatic talks scheduled to begin Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled readiness for talks with Lebanon. However, uncertainty persisted amid ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon and continued shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, both of which risk complicating diplomatic efforts and weighing on regional stability. The luxury sector traded mixed, with L'Oreal down 0.6% while Hermes advanced 0.3%. In the financial sector, BNP gained 1% while AXA lost 0.8%. Most industrial stocks posted losses, with Airbus down 0.8%, Safran down 0.8%, and Thales down 3.4%.