The control room of Euronext, which manages the Paris stock exchange (AFP / ERIC PIERMONT)
The flagship index of the Paris Stock Exchange, the CAC 40, ended 2023 at 7,543.18 points, a year-on-year gain of 16.52%, the third-best performance in the last decade, thanks mainly to the decline in inflation.
The CAC 40 rose sharply at the beginning and end of the year and in December set its absolute session record at 7,653.99 points. Among the companies that make it up, the best performers were manufacturer Stellantis (+59.34%), construction materials specialist Saint-Gobain (+46.02%) and advertising giant Publicis (+41.37%).
Taking into account the dividend payout, the profit for the investor is even more than 20.14%.
On Friday, the CAC 40 ended up 0.11%, in a quiet market due to the absence of indicators and market players.
Highlights Inflation in Spain was 3.1% on a one-year basis in December, compared to the 3.3% expected by analysts.
The number confirms a disinflationary trend that has been ongoing throughout 2023. As a result, investors are now confident that central banks have a clear path to cutting their key rates after raising them sharply from 2022 and taking a break in the second half. the year 2023.
This belief sharply reduced sovereign interest rates. France’s 10-year bond, the benchmark, ended the year at around 2.56%, a clear gain in two days but a long way from its peak of nearly 3.60% two months ago.
“We expect a lot from central banks. They might try to show a little patience because once the rate cuts start, it will have a strong psychological effect,” says Aurélien Buffault, director of bond management at Delubac. MORNING.
The Paris Stock Exchange closes for a three-day weekend and does not open until Tuesday, January 2.
The broad index of the Paris Stock Exchange, SBF 120, gained 15.26% in 2023.
Stellantis rushes, Alstom derails
The Stellantis automotive group, which was born in 2021 from the merger of Peugeot-Citroën (PSA) and Fiat-Chrysler (FCA), had a successful year. The fourteen-brand manufacturer posted a record first-half net profit of €10.9 billion (+37% in one year), with a strong operating margin, supported by high prices for its vehicles. Its stock is up 59.34% for the year.
He was accompanied on the podium by the building materials specialist Saint-Gobain (+46.02%) and the advertising giant Publicis (+41.37%).
Twelve groups grew by more than 30% during the year.
Conversely, six companies present on the CAC 40 saw their shares decline at the end of the year.
Beset by commercial and financial difficulties, Alstom lost more than 46% of its stock market value during the year. Teleperformance had another tough year, down 40.70%. Kering lost 16.09%, a rare luxury stock that has suffered significant investor disappointment.
Worldline, the flagship of the index until mid-December, was finally deposed mainly due to the disastrous performance of the stock market in 2023, losing almost 60% in one session. Over the year, the stock has fallen 57.10%.
LVMH (+7.90% for the year) remains the company whose stock market value is the highest among the stock exchanges listed in Paris, ahead of L’Oréal (+35.09%) and Hermès (+32.79%).
Euronext CAC40