The Paris stock exchange inched up on Tuesday, with the benchmark CAC 40 reaching 8,343.59 points, a gain of roughly 0.24%. The index is edging closer to the early‑year record of 8,396.72 points.
Luxury conglomerate Kering delivered earnings that exceeded expectations, sending its shares soaring by more than 10% to €287.95. The strong performance lifted fellow French luxury names, with Hermès up 2.1% and LVMH gaining 0.6%.
Analysts highlighted Kering’s fourth‑quarter revenue of €3.9 billion, topping consensus by 2%, and a notable rebound in the Gucci brand. The better‑than‑expected sales helped erase much of the losses accumulated earlier in the year.
Investors are now turning their focus to the United States, where December retail sales data are due later in the day, followed by U.S. employment figures on Thursday and January inflation numbers on Friday. These releases will shape expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next interest‑rate move.
Lower inflation and subdued economic activity could prompt the Fed to ease rates, a scenario that typically benefits equities.
In other news, French video‑game developer Ubisoft is grappling with a strike over a new cost‑cutting plan that aims to trim at least €200 million over two years, on top of €300 million already saved since 2023. The prolonged financial strain has seen Ubisoft’s share price tumble nearly 95% over the past five years.
Overall, the Paris market’s modest rise reflects a blend of solid luxury earnings and cautious optimism ahead of key U.S. economic indicators.