Paris, June 18, 2026 – The Paris Stock Exchange (CAC 40) closed slightly higher on Thursday, benefiting from a further drop in oil prices after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran to end the conflict in the Middle East. The CAC 40 gained 0.44%, adding 37.19 points to reach 8,467.98. This follows a 0.20% decline the previous day.
Geopolitical Relief and Falling Oil Prices Drive Market Up
“Investors are getting a reprieve on the geopolitical front,” commented Andreas Lipkow of CMC Markets. The American and Iranian presidents remotely signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday evening, in which Tehran committed to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This development has led to a continued decline in oil prices, which are now nearing their pre-war levels. As of 3:50 PM GMT, the price of Brent crude was down 2.64% at $77.45, while its American equivalent, WTI, fell 2.81% to $74.63.
Fed’s Firm Stance on Inflation
The day’s trading was also influenced by European markets processing the US Federal Reserve’s meeting on Wednesday evening, which adopted a more hawkish tone than investors had anticipated. As expected, and unanimously, the US central bank decided to keep its rates unchanged between 3.50% and 3.75% at the conclusion of its new chairman Kevin Warsh’s first meeting. However, US officials suggested, through their forecasts, that monetary tightening could occur by the end of the year to address accelerating inflation caused by the Middle East conflict.
Corporate News: Edenred Soars, Carrefour and Accenture Decline
Edenred’s Surge
The French prepaid services company Edenred, known for its Ticket restaurant, announced to AFP on Thursday that it had been “approached by investment funds,” confirming information from La Lettre. Its shares surged by 17.17% to 24.23 euros. Edenred, however, qualified this by stating, “There is no certainty as to the continuation of their interest or the existence of a possible acquisition operation.”
Carrefour Sanctioned by JPMorgan
Carrefour shares dropped 6.17% to 15.43 euros after a note from JPMorgan, cited by Bloomberg, suggested that the company’s quarterly results, expected on July 23, could be an “event likely to justify a decline.”
Accenture’s Disappointment Affects Capgemini
The American consulting firm Accenture saw a significant drop on Wall Street following a downward revision of its forecasts, announced during its quarterly results publication on Thursday. This news led to a sharp decline for its French competitor, Capgemini, which fell 8.87% to 89.00 euros in Paris.
2CRSi Requests Suspension
The computer server designer 2CRSI plummeted 43.05% to 25.40 euros after a report from short-seller Grizzli Research accused it of having “fabricated almost all” of its accounts related to “its revenues and forecasts.” In a statement, the group “disputes the content” of this extensive report and declared it was “preparing a documented response.” Furthermore, it requested “the suspension” of its listing to “provide a detailed response to the allegations.” The company also stated that it “reserves the right to take any action it deems appropriate to preserve its rights, its reputation, and the interests of its shareholders.”
The market’s performance reflects a complex interplay of global political events, central bank policies, and specific corporate developments, with investors carefully weighing these factors to navigate the current economic landscape.
