PARIS: France stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Utilities, Healthcare and Technology sectors led shares higher.
At the close in Paris, the CAC 40 gained 1.35% to hit a new 5-year high, while the SBF 120 index climbed 1.32%.
The best performers of the session on the CAC 40 were Veolia Environnement VE SA (PA:VIE), which rose 6.13% or 1.075 points to trade at 18.605 at the close. Meanwhile, Engie SA (PA:ENGIE) added 4.02% or 0.54 points to end at 13.86 and Accor SA (PA:ACCP) was up 3.64% or 1.48 points to 42.00 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were ArcelorMittal SA (AS:ISPA), which fell 1.23% or 0.086 points to trade at 6.915 at the close. TechnipFMC PLC (PA:FTI) declined 0.96% or 0.28 points to end at 28.32 and Carrefour SA (PA:CARR) was down 0.35% or 0.07 points to 21.48.
The top performers on the SBF 120 were Suez SA (PA:SEVI) which rose 6.87% to 16.480, Veolia Environnement VE SA (PA:VIE) which was up 6.13% to settle at 18.605 and Air France KLM SA (PA:AIRF) which gained 5.33% to close at 8.030.
The worst performers were Korian Medica SA (PA:KORI) which was down 1.25% to 29.550 in late trade, ArcelorMittal SA (AS:ISPA) which lost 1.23% to settle at 6.915 and GTT (PA:GTT) which was down 1.14% to 34.40 at the close.
Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Paris Stock Exchange by 440 to 191 and 82 ended unchanged.
Shares in Accor SA (PA:ACCP) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 3.64% or 1.48 to 42.00. Shares in Suez SA (PA:SEVI) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 6.87% or 1.060 to 16.480. Shares in Air France KLM SA (PA:AIRF) rose to 52-week highs; rising 5.33% or 0.406 to 8.030.
The CAC 40 VIX, which measures the implied volatility of CAC 40 options, was down 4.21% to 17.85.
Gold Futures for June delivery was down 1.30% or 16.18 to $1232.32 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in June fell 3.99% or 1.91 to hit $45.91 a barrel, while the July Brent oil contract fell 3.76% or 1.91 to trade at $48.88 a barrel.
EUR/USD was up 0.79% to 1.0972, while EUR/GBP rose 0.39% to 0.8493.
