CAC 40 edges higher as Edenred jumps and oil prices slip

The French CAC 40 index inched up on 18 June 2026, gaining 0.44% to 8,468 points after a fragile rebound. Investors were buoyed by the extension of the US‑Iran cease‑fire, which helped push Brent crude below $77 a barrel, and by a hawkish tone from new Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh.

Tech stocks led gains, with Intel climbing 8% after announcing a chip‑manufacturing partnership with Apple in the United States. Edenred, the restaurant‑voucher and payment‑solutions provider, surged 17% to €24.23 after confirming contact from investment funds regarding a potential takeover. Mid‑day data showed the index at 8,431.84 points, up 0.01%, with a daily high of 8,471.41 and a low of 8,406.17. Year‑to‑date, the CAC 40 is up 2.89%, near its annual peak of 8,642.23. Stellantis recorded the highest trading volume, LVMH holds the largest market capitalisation, SRTeleperformance posted the lowest P/E ratio, and Renault offers the highest projected dividend yield for 2026.