The CAC 40 edged up by 0.2% to 7,717 on Friday, marking its third consecutive session of gains and positioning the index for a strong weekly performance. Market sentiment remained upbeat as Europe’s earnings season neared its end, while renewed optimism emerged around potential progress in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Additional support came from growing expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, following President Trump’s announcement of his intention to nominate Stephen Miran to the Fed’s board — a nominee widely seen as favoring a more dovish monetary stance. On the corporate front, Thales led the gainers with a 1% rise, while Sanofi and Renault followed closely, each gaining 0.9%. On the other hand, Axa and Publicis were among the few decliners, falling 0.8% and 0.7%,