Paris CAC 40 slides as US‑Iran tensions lift oil prices

The Paris stock market was expected to open lower on Wednesday, with CAC 40 futures down about 0.6% as oil prices rose after renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, while the United States earlier said it had struck more than 80 targets in Iran in retaliation for attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Stock Exchange also closed lower, weighed down by technology shares. Brent crude rose $2.50 a barrel (3.4%) to $76.66 and WTI gained $2.37 (3.4%) to $72.81, fueling concerns that higher energy costs could boost inflation and affect corporate margins. Analysts noted heightened market volatility and warned investors that rising oil prices may pressure sectors dependent on energy, while prompting a shift toward defensive and energy‑transition stocks.