2026.01.0509:45:00UTC+00CAC 40 Extends Upward Trend

The CAC 40 rose by 0.5% to reach approximately 8,220 on Monday, extending its upward momentum from the onset of 2026. This uptick is attributed to intensified geopolitical tensions in Venezuela, which have driven investor interest toward defense stocks. Notably, after the United States initiated actions to detain Venezuelan President Maduro, defense stocks showed significant growth: Thales surged by 4.5%, Airbus increased by 2.0%, and Safran expanded by 1.5%. The broader market's positive trajectory was also supported by gains from Eurofins Scientific SE, up by 5.3%, Schneider Electric at 2.5%, and ArcelorMittal rising by 1.7%. Meanwhile, Air Liquide recorded a modest increase of 0.2%, although it disclosed that currency fluctuations adversely impacted its 2025 sales by approximately 3.5%, with a 4.2% reduction in the third quarter and an anticipated 6% decline in the fourth quarter. Conversely, the energy sector faced challenges, as ENGIE fell by 0.8% and TotalEnergies SE dipped by 0.5%. Additionally, Orange decreased by 1.5% and Carrefour by 1.1%, exerting downward pressure on the index.