The CAC 40 rose 0.8% to close at 8,086 on Thursday, snapping two days of modest declines as markets priced expectations of another Fed rate cut in 2026 and gains in several headline names. Fed Chair Jerome Powell signalled a dovish stance in his press briefing, which helped underpin risk appetite. Capgemini led the advance, climbing 3.9% after being named a Leader in Gartner’s 2025 Magic Quadrant for Custom Software Development Services. Schneider Electric added 2.4% after unveiling a €3.5 billion share buyback and raising its profit outlook. EssilorLuxottica rose modestly after announcing a partnership with Italy’s Chips-IT Foundation to develop specialized chips for smart glasses. Other notable winners included Pernod Ricard (+2.9%), Carrefour (+3.8%) and Saint-Gobain (+4.4%). On the downside technology stocks came under pressure after Oracle reported disappointing quarterly results and the auto sector also lagged.