Paris (France) (AFP) – The Paris Stock Exchange is moving in the red on Friday, with caution remaining on the markets in the face of geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East, against the backdrop of numerous company results.

Published on: 04/24/2026 - 11:05

Around 10:45 a.m. Paris time, the flagship index of the Paris Stock Exchange lost 1.12%, or a loss of 92.03 points, to settle at 8,135.29. Thursday, the CAC 40 index had gained 0.87% to 8,227.32 points.

“There is no real progress towards ending the conflict between the United States and Iran, even if the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has been extended by three weeks,” comments Neil Wilson of Saxo Markets.

As a result, on the markets, “shares are in general decline, risk appetite is deteriorating and oil prices are rising, just like the safe-haven US dollar, which has risen regularly all week,” he summarizes.

In terms of macroeconomic data, private sector activity in France experienced its sharpest decline in 14 months, reflecting an "acceleration of contraction" in the second largest economy in the euro zone, according to the PMI Flash barometer published Thursday by S&P Global.

French household confidence recorded a sharp deterioration in April, its biggest drop since March 2022 and the start of the war in Ukraine, the National Institute of Statistics said on Friday.

Investors are also digesting a new burst of company results.

The French household appliances group Seb (Moulinex, Tefal, Rowenta), launched into a vast savings plan, recorded an operating profit from activity (Ropa) up 42% to 72 million euros. Seb shares climbed 6.69% to 48.78 euros around 10:45 a.m. Paris time.

Equipment manufacturers in the red

Forvia (-4.45% to 10.09 euros) announced a decline of 6.4% in its turnover in the first quarter of 2026, to 5.13 billion euros, deeming the increase in sales in Europe “encouraging”.

Valeo (-3.62% to 10.79 euros) also recorded a turnover down 3.6% in the first quarter, to 5.1 billion euros, suffering in particular from the strength of the euro, but confirmed its financial objectives for the year 2026.

© 2026 AFP

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