The CAC 40 edged down 0.1% to 8,210 on Wednesday, hovering near a one-week low as investors digested a fresh batch of corporate earnings. Shares of French manufacturer Bic plunged over 9% after the company cut its 2025 forecasts for sales, operating margin, and cash flow growth, citing weaker-than-expected third-quarter performance. Sopra Steria slipped 1% after reporting a nearly 3% organic decline in revenue for the same period. Among major laggards on the index, STMicroelectronics, Orange, Thales, and AXA each lost around 1%. On the upside, Stellantis rose more than 2%, buoyed by stronger-than-expected margins reported by rival Mercedes-Benz in its automotive division. Looking ahead, market attention turns to the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later today, with policymakers widely expected to deliver a second rate cut of the year amid signs of a cooling labor market and a smaller-than-expected increase in inflation.
