France stocks higher at close of trade; CAC 40 up 0.70%

Investing.com – France stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Consumer Services, Utilities and Oil&Gas sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 rose 0.70% to hit a new all time high, while the SBF 120 index added 0.22%.

The best performers of the session on the CAC 40 were Air Liquide SA (EPA:AIRP), which rose 2.20% or 4.08 points to trade at 189.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) added 1.99% or 4.40 points to end at 225.90 and Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA (EPA:MICP) was up 1.76% or 0.59 points to 34.17 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Kering SA (EPA:PRTP), which fell 2.04% or 8.85 points to trade at 425.65 at the close. Bouygues SA (EPA:BOUY) declined 1.61% or 0.56 points to end at 34.26 and STMicroelectronics NV (EPA:STMPA) was down 1.56% or 0.66 points to 41.55.

The top performers on the SBF 120 were Fnac Darty SA (EPA:FNAC) which rose 7.81% to 26.50, JC Decaux SA (EPA:JCDX) which was up 5.23% to settle at 19.92 and Atos SE (EPA:ATOS) which gained 4.29% to close at 2.41.

The worst performers were Compagnie Plastic Omnium SE (EPA:PLOF) which was down 3.06% to 10.78 in late trade, Elior Group (EPA:ELIOR) which lost 2.87% to settle at 2.51 and X Fab Silicon Foundries EV (EPA:XFAB) which was down 2.82% to 7.24 at the close.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 273 to 247 and 90 ended unchanged.

Shares in Air Liquide SA (EPA:AIRP) rose to all time highs; up 2.20% or 4.08 to 189.50. Shares in Capgemini SE (EPA:CAPP) rose to 5-year highs; gaining 1.99% or 4.40 to 225.90. Shares in Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA (EPA:MICP) rose to 52-week highs; rising 1.76% or 0.59 to 34.17. Shares in X Fab Silicon Foundries EV (EPA:XFAB) fell to 52-week lows; down 2.82% or 0.21 to 7.24.

The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was unchanged 0.00% to 18.96 a new 52-week high.

Gold Futures for April delivery was up 0.92% or 18.65 to $2,049.35 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in April fell 2.39% or 1.88 to hit $76.73 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract fell 2.26% or 1.89 to trade at $81.78 a barrel.

EUR/USD was unchanged 0.04% to 1.08, while EUR/GBP unchanged 0.08% to 0.85.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.06% at 103.81.