French Stocks Close Lower; CAC 40 Falls 1.94%

French equities ended Wednesday's session lower, as declines in the Industrials, Consumer Goods, and Consumer Services sectors weighed on the broader market.

At the closing bell in Paris, the CAC 40 had fallen 1.94% to mark a fresh three-month low, while the SBF 120 index declined 1.88%.

Among the CAC 40's best performers of the session, TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTEF) rose 0.59%, or 0.46 points, to settle at 78.21. Bureau Veritas SA (EPA:BVI) advanced 0.14%, or 0.04 points, to close at 27.68, while Engie SA (EPA:ENGIE) slipped 0.29%, or 0.07 points, to 24.05 in late trading.

Kering SA (EPA:PRTP) was the worst performer on the CAC 40, dropping 4.97%, or 12.15 points, to 232.25 at the close. Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) lost 4.17%, or 4.40 points, ending at 101.15, and Legrand SA (EPA:LEGD) fell 3.97%, or 5.80 points, to 140.35.

On the SBF 120, Derichebourg (EPA:DBG) was the top riser, up 2.39% to 9.44, followed by JC Decaux SA (EPA:JCDX), which gained 1.95% to 24.00, and Euroapi SAS (EPA:EAPI), which added 0.61% to close at 0.82.

The SBF 120's biggest losers were Kering SA (EPA:PRTP), down 4.97% to 232.25 in late trade, Bollore SA (EPA:BOLL), which fell 4.22% to settle at 3.63, and Worldline SA (EPA:WLN), which declined 4.21% to 13.60 at the close.

Declining shares outnumbered advancing ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 345 to 119, with 76 issues finishing unchanged.

Bollore SA (EPA:BOLL) shares sank to a five-year low, losing 4.22%, or 0.16 points, to 3.63.

The CAC 40 VIX, which measures implied volatility on CAC 40 options, remained steady at 18.96, a new 52-week high.

Gold futures for December delivery rose 0.17%, or $7.34, to $4,446.34 per troy ounce. In other commodities, October crude oil climbed 3.64%, or $3.39, to $96.42 a barrel, while Brent crude for November delivery advanced 3.41%, or $3.34, to $101.26 a barrel.

EUR/USD ticked up 0.09% to 1.16, while EUR/GBP gained 0.03% to 0.86.

The US Dollar Index Futures edged down 0.02% to 98.76.