CAC 40 sinks to three-week low on Middle East, oil
France’s CAC 40 slips for an eighth straight session, trading around 8,492 and hitting a three-week low as investors stay cautious amid Middle East tensions and elevated oil.
The CAC 40 edged lower to trade around 8,492 on Thursday, extending its losing streak to an eighth consecutive session and hitting its lowest level in three weeks as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Oil prices remained elevated after US President Donald Trump unveiled what he described as a “crushing economic operation” against Iran following the collapse of negotiations between the two countries, while Iran dismissed the measures as a political distraction from domestic US challenges.
The decline came despite support from lower global bond yields after the US Treasury Department announced plans to at least double the size of its bond buyback program, boosting demand for government debt.
On the corporate front, luxury stocks such as LVMH (-0.5%) and Hermès (-0.3%) declined as concerns mounted over weakening demand in China, where intensified scrutiny of offshore wealth and tax avoidance has curbed spending among high-net-worth consumers.