FranceDefense & Geopolitical Fragmentation▲
CAC 40 edges higher as Thales rallies on Exail stake deal
France's CAC 40 index ended marginally higher on Monday, adding 10.72 points or 0.13% to 8,518.79, as easing geopolitical concerns and expectations of steady central bank rates supported sentiment. Thales climbed 2% after agreeing to buy the Gorge family's 35.51% stake in high-technology industrial group Exail Technologies. EssilorLuxottica rose 2.3% and Publicis Groupe gained nearly 2%, while Vinci fell about 2% despite securing three long-term road contracts in Greater London worth nearly €70 million per year combined. A sharper contraction in French construction activity, with the S&P Global France Construction PMI dropping to 38.2 in June from 39.6 in May, capped further gains.