Ebbing worries about AI disruptions and a renewed risk appetite helped the CAC 40 benchmark that tracks the 40 largest French stocks based on the Euronext Paris scale a fresh peak. The index touched an all-time high of 8556.89 earlier in the trade. Data released earlier in the day showed the consumer confidence indicator in France recording 91 in February. Markets had expected a level of 90, matching the level in December. CAC 40 is currently trading at 8,540.57, rising 0.25 percent from the previous close ...

CAPITAL DECREASE AND REPORT ON SHARE BUY-BACK Regulated Information Paris, 23 February 2026 Societe Generale announces a capital decrease through the cancellation of treasury shares and reports executed transactions within the framework of a share buy-back programme. Capital decrease On 16 February 2026, the Board of Directors, upon authorization of the Extraordinary General Meeting of 22 May 2024, decided to reduce Societe Generale’s share capital on 23 February 2026, by cancellation of 15,170,791 treasur ...

Market Performance - European stocks closed positively, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 up by 1.19%, the UK's FTSE 100 climbing 1.23%, Germany's DAX gaining 1.12%, and France's CAC 40 ending 0.81% higher [1][3]. - Defense stocks rose due to an agreement between India and France to strengthen defense and aerospace ties [2]. - Mining and banking sectors also saw significant gains, with notable performances from companies like Antofagasta, which soared nearly 11% [4]. Company Updates - BAE Systems reported a better-than-expected 12% rise in full-year operating profit, leading to a 4% increase in its shares [4]. - In Germany, Rheinmetall climbed more than 5%, and Heidelberg Materials gained about 4.3% [5]. - Bayer's shares fell over 7% due to a proposed $10.5 billion settlement related to litigation over its Roundup weedkiller [6]. Sector Performance - In the UK market, mining companies such as Fresnillo, Anglo American Plc, and Glencore gained between 4.25% and 4.8% [4]. - In France, companies like Thales, ArcelorMittal, and STMicroelectronics saw gains of 2%-5% [7]. - Notable declines were observed in food retailer Carrefour, which slid more than 5% after reporting a decline in operating profit [8]. Economic Indicators - France's inflation eased to the lowest in five years, with the consumer price index rising only 0.3% year-on-year in January [9]. - The EU harmonized inflation softened to 0.4% from 0.7% in December, marking the weakest rate since December 2020 [10]. - In the UK, the consumer price index posted an annual increase of 3% in January, the lowest since March 2025 [12].

Market Overview - European stocks closed mostly higher, with the pan-European Stoxx 600 gaining 0.45% and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 climbing 0.79% [2] - Investors are optimistic about potential monetary easing from central banks, particularly the Bank of England, amid rising unemployment rates in the UK [1][9] Sector Performance - Defense stocks showed weakness due to hopes of de-escalation in U.S.-Iran tensions [3] - In the UK market, several companies such as Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Barratt Redrow, and AstraZeneca saw gains between 2% and 3.5% [3] - Conversely, miners like Endeavour Mining and Antofagasta fell between 2% and 4% [4] Notable Company Movements - GSK's shares rose over 2.5% following the announcement of a £2 billion share buyback program [3] - Bayer in Germany soared more than 8%, while other companies like Vonovia and Infineon gained approximately 4% and 3.25% respectively [4] - In France, Dassault Systemes climbed about 4%, with other firms like Unibail Rodamco and AXA gaining 2%-3% [6] Economic Indicators - German consumer price inflation rebounded to 2.1% in January, influenced by higher food and services costs [7] - The UK's jobless rate increased to 5.2% in the fourth quarter, with average earnings growth at 4.2%, below expectations [9]

Market Performance - European stocks exhibited a mixed performance for the third consecutive session, influenced by corporate earnings updates and regional economic data [1] - The pan-European Stoxx 600 index decreased by 0.13%, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 rose by 0.42% and Germany's DAX increased by 0.25% [1] - France's CAC 40 closed down by 0.35%, and Switzerland's SMI gained 0.52% [1] Sector Performance - In the U.K. market, defense stocks saw gains, while banks experienced weakness [2] - Notable gainers included Relx, which soared by 10%, and Experian and 3i Group, which rose by 5.5% and 5.1%, respectively [2] - Rolls-Royce Holdings, Halma, Endeavour Mining, Melrose Industries, Tesco, Fresnillo, and BAE Systems gained between 2% and 4% [2] Company-Specific Updates - Entain declined by 4.7%, while Natwest Group, Croda International, HSBC Holdings, Barclays Group, Lloyds Banking Group, and others lost between 1% and 2.5% [3] - In Germany, companies like Deutsche Boerse, MTU Aero Engines, and BMW saw gains ranging from 1% to 5.2% [3] - Rheinmetall's stock rose sharply due to news of an automotive divestment and a €200 million NATO contract for 120mm ammunition [4] - In France, Safran's stock surged over 8% on strong revenue growth and an upward revision of future financial targets [5] - Capgemini increased by 5.6% due to strong full-year revenue growth, with other companies like Eurofins Scientific and Publicis Groupe also closing with strong gains [5] Economic Indicators - The euro area experienced steady GDP growth of 0.3% in the fourth quarter, matching the growth rate of the previous quarter [7] - Year-on-year GDP growth was recorded at 1.3%, slightly below the 1.4% seen in the prior quarter [7] - Employment in the euro area increased by 0.2% in the fourth quarter, with a yearly rise of 0.6% [7] - The euro area trade surplus decreased to €12.6 billion in December from €13.9 billion the previous year, with exports increasing by 3.4% [8] - Germany's wholesale prices rose by 1.2% year-on-year in January, consistent with the previous month's increase [9]

Core Viewpoint - Societe Generale is a significant player in the European banking sector, with a strong performance in 2025 driven by effective cost management and stable net interest income, despite facing challenges in certain segments [2][5]. Group 1: Company Overview - Societe Generale operates in three main segments: French Retail Banking, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, and Global Banking and Investor Solutions [1]. - The company competes with major European banks such as BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole [1]. Group 2: Financial Performance - RBC Capital raised its price target for Societe Generale from EUR 67 to EUR 74, reflecting confidence in the bank's financial performance, which exceeded expectations in 2025 [2][5]. - The bank's strong performance in French Retail operations contributed significantly to its financial success [2]. Group 3: Market Conditions - The European Central Bank's decision to maintain interest rates creates a favorable environment for European banks, including Societe Generale, supporting its operations in core markets [3][5]. - The bank's improved Return on Tangible Equity (ROTE) is reflected in its high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, suggesting that the stock may be fairly valued at its current price [3]. Group 4: Stock Performance - Currently, Societe Generale's stock is trading at $17.91, showing a 3.35% increase from the previous day [4]. - The stock has fluctuated between $17.66 and $18 on the current trading day, with a market capitalization of approximately $67.92 billion [4].

Group 1 - Societe Generale has completed its EUR 1 billion share buy-back programme, repurchasing a total of 15,170,791 shares for cancellation [1][3] - The share buy-back programme commenced on 19 November 2025 and the recent purchases occurred from 2 to 6 February 2026 [1][3] - During the buy-back period, a total of 657,619 shares were purchased at an average price of €72.2414 [3] Group 2 - Societe Generale is a leading European bank with approximately 119,000 employees serving over 26 million clients in 62 countries [4] - The bank has been operational for 160 years, providing a wide range of advisory and financial solutions to corporate, institutional, and individual clients [4] - The Group is committed to sustainability and is included in major socially responsible investment indices, reflecting its dedication to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles [5]

Market Performance - European stocks showed a positive trend with the pan European Stoxx 600 climbing 0.89%, while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 gained 0.59%, Germany's DAX jumped 0.94%, and France's CAC 40 closed up by 0.43% [1] - Major European markets such as Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Spain closed higher, while Belgium, Greece, and Russia ended weak [2] Company Earnings and Movements - Burberry Group, IAG, and HSBC Holdings saw gains between 2% and 5.2%, while BP, Standard Chartered, and Rolls-Royce Holdings also moved up sharply [2][3] - Vinci reported stronger-than-expected results, with a full-year 2025 net income of €4.90 billion, up from €4.86 billion the previous year, leading to a nearly 10% increase in its stock price [5] - Stellantis plummeted 25% after announcing a €22 billion charge related to restructuring efforts and plans to sell its 49% stake in NextStar Energy [6] Sector Performance - In the German market, Siemens Energy climbed 4.3%, while Siemens Healthineers dropped more than 3% [4] - In France, ArcelorMittal gained about 4.75%, and Schneider Electric ended higher by 1%-2.3% [5] Economic Indicators - Germany's industrial production decreased by 1.9% month-on-month in December, reversing a previous rise, while exports increased by 4% and imports growth doubled to 1.4% [7][8] - France's foreign trade deficit increased to €4.8 billion in December, as imports grew faster than exports [9]

Core Viewpoint - Societe Generale has raised its profitability target for 2026 following a strong fourth-quarter performance driven by cost cuts and improved retail banking sales, despite a decline in investment banking revenue [1]. Financial Performance - The bank's fourth-quarter net income increased by 36% year-over-year to 1.42 billion euros ($1.68 billion), exceeding analyst expectations by 21% [1]. - Revenue for the quarter rose by 1.6% to 6.73 billion euros, also above forecasts [1]. - Operating expenses were slightly lower than projected, contributing to the overall positive results [1]. Strategic Developments - Societe Generale has set a new target for return on tangible equity for 2026 at over 10%, up from a previous range of 9% to 10% [1]. - The bank anticipates revenue growth of more than 2% in 2026 and aims for a cost reduction of around 3% [1]. - The CET1 ratio at the end of 2025 was 13.5%, surpassing the self-imposed target of 13% for 2026, providing capital headroom for organic growth [1]. Investment Banking Performance - The investment banking division experienced a 2.3% decline in sales to 2.41 billion euros, falling short of expectations [1]. - FICC trading revenue dropped by 13.3%, contrasting with gains reported by competitors like BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank [1]. Shareholder Returns - The bank announced a share buyback program worth 1.46 billion euros and plans to propose a dividend of 1.61 euros per share for 2026 [1].

Core Viewpoint - The SPDR Gold Shares ETF has significantly outperformed Bitcoin, Nvidia, and the S&P 500 in 2023, highlighting gold's strong performance as a safe haven asset amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties [1][2]. Performance Comparison - The SPDR Gold Shares ETF has increased by 25% year to date, outperforming Palantir Technologies (down 12%) and Nvidia (up 3%) [1]. - The ETF has outperformed the S&P 500 by 23 percentage points year to date and by 52 percentage points over the last six months [2]. Hedge Fund Activity - Notable hedge fund managers, Israel Englander of Millennium Management and Ken Griffin of Citadel Advisors, have increased their holdings in the SPDR Gold Shares ETF, indicating confidence in gold as a strategic investment [6]. Gold as a Diversifier - Gold is recognized as an attractive portfolio diversifier due to its low correlation with stocks and bonds, making it appealing during periods of global tension and economic distress [4][5]. Historical Performance - Historical data shows that gold has provided a hedge during significant market downturns, with gold prices declining less than the S&P 500 during crises [5]. Geopolitical Factors - The demand for gold tends to rise during periods of geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, which have been exacerbated by recent U.S. policies [8][9]. Future Price Predictions - Analysts have varying predictions for gold prices in 2026, with estimates ranging from $4,700 to $6,000 per ounce, reflecting differing views on the impact of geopolitical and economic factors [11].