Paris (France) (AFP) – The Paris Stock Exchange closed slightly higher on Tuesday, after a session without a catalyst, with the Parisian CAC 40 index remaining less exposed than American indices to the technology sector and fears regarding massive investments in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

Published on: 02/17/2026 - 6:31 p.m.

The flagship CAC 40 index ended up 0.54%, or 44.96 points, to settle at 8,361.46 points. On Monday, the CAC 40 concluded a sluggish session in balance (+0.06%).

Andrea Tueni, head of customer relations and market activities at Saxo Bank, described a “sluggish” session with “tech stocks penalized on the American side”.

“We find ourselves in a much more uncertain environment on technology and artificial intelligence,” he stressed. “The software sector is suffering a lot” at the start of the year, he noted.

Investors doubt the profitability of tech groups' colossal spending on AI, which these companies are increasingly financing by taking on debt, whereas previously they used their own cash.

At the same time, investors are worried about the consequences of AI on the economic model of many activities, particularly that of software, which has experienced significant disappointments on the markets in recent weeks.

Europe is, however, less penalized than the American indices, the Old Continent being much less exposed to tech stocks.

Mr. Tueni also notes a “rather good microeconomy”, with “60% of companies in Europe which exceeded expectations” of the market in the middle of the corporate results season.

Concerning the CAC 40, a few days after its historic record above 8,400 points, thanks to a wave of good company results, the index finds itself "lacking a catalyst" to display a clearer trend, explained Mr. Tueni.

Dassault Systèmes' technical rebound

The Dassault Systèmes group ended Tuesday up sharply by 4.82% to 16.73 euros, a "technical rebound" after a "very complicated period for the stock" which remains in a colossal decline of almost 30% since the start of the year, indicated Mr. Tueni.

On Monday, Dassault Systèmes fell by 10.44%.

Also sanctioned on Monday on the Paris Stock Exchange, losing 3.00%, Capgemini ended Tuesday up 1.97%, at 103.70 euros.

© 2026 AFP

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