CAC 40 Climbs Higher Ahead Of ECB Rate Decision

The French CAC 40 rose 0.83% to 8,229.44, recovering from the prior session’s losses as investors positioned for the European Central Bank’s policy decision later in the day. The market expects a 25-basis-point rate hike, which would be the ECB’s first increase in about three years, and traders are watching Christine Lagarde’s press conference for clues on the future pace of tightening. Gains in heavyweight names such as STMicroelectronics, ArcelorMittal, Societe Generale, LVMH, Engie, Schneider Electric and Thales supported the index, while weakness in Capgemini, Dassault Systemes and Legrand limited upside. Broader sentiment was also influenced by ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions in the Middle East, adding a cautious tone to European trading.