CAC 40 gains 1.05 percent to close near 8,000 points

The CAC 40 finished Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 7,970 points, gaining 1.05 percent and moving close to the 8,000-point threshold. The index reached 7,998.12 points during the session. The closing level and the session's main drivers were reported by Investir.

Earnings support the Paris benchmark

Corporate reporting provided the clearest individual-stock support for the index. Renault rose 6.91 percent after reporting third-quarter revenue of 11.6 billion euros at constant exchange rates, an increase of 1.4 percent, and confirming its full-year objectives. Investir linked the company's performance to demand for electric and hybrid models.

Airbus also contributed to the positive tone. The aircraft manufacturer delivered quarterly figures described by Investir as broadly in line with expectations and expressed confidence in accelerating deliveries despite previously reported quality issues affecting certain aircraft programs. The company also confirmed its intention to launch a 5 billion euro share-buyback program before the end of 2026, adding a further shareholder-return element to the market narrative.

Central banks remain in focus

The day's advance came against a monetary-policy backdrop that offered no immediate surprise. The Federal Reserve had left its policy rate unchanged on Wednesday, while the European Central Bank also kept rates unchanged on Thursday. Investir noted that the pause did not necessarily signal the end of the rate cycle. For equity investors, the combination of resilient economic activity, still-elevated inflation and borrowing costs remains relevant to the valuation of cyclical and growth companies.

That backdrop was also visible across markets. US inflation data showed personal-consumption expenditure prices rising 3.6 percent year on year in September, in line with expectations, while third-quarter US economic growth was reported at an annualized 3.4 percent. At the start of the US session, technology shares came under pressure after Alphabet's results renewed concerns about the scale and financing of artificial-intelligence investment. This restrained international context did not prevent the Paris benchmark from extending its advance.

Index near a key round-number level

The CAC 40's close leaves the index only a short distance below 8,000 points and marks a positive October performance of 0.07 percent, according to Investir. The session therefore combined a strong contribution from selected earnings-sensitive constituents with continued attention to interest-rate expectations. Investors will now assess whether upcoming company reports and fresh policy signals can provide sufficient momentum for a sustained move beyond the round-number level.

Further CAC 40 coverage is available on the CAC 40 topic page.