Investing.com – France stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the , and sectors led shares higher.

The Paris closing bell saw the gain of 0.30% and the index climb 0.25%.

Veolia Environnement VE SA – PA:, which gained 2.23% (or 0.72 points) to trade at 33.00 by the closing of the session, were the top performers. Engie SA, PA: added 1.69% (or 0.23 points) to close at 13.73 Vivendi SA (PA:), was up 1.47 percent or 0.17 points at 11.75 in late trading.

They were also the worst performers of the session. BNP Paribas SA (PA:) dropped 1.97%, or 1.29 points, to trade at 64.11 by the close. ArcelorMittal SA(AS:), which fell 1.58%, or 0.50 points, to end at 31,12. WFD Unibail Rodamco NV [AS:] was down 1.32%, or 0.88 to 65.75.

These were the top performers on SBF 120 Valneva (PA:), which rose 19.75% to 16.540 Mcphy Energy (PA) which was higher by 5.47% and settled at 19.10 Albioma SA (PA) closed at 35.70 after a gain of 4.88%.

These were the worst performers Soitec SA (PA.:), which fell 18.24% at 167.60 late trade Virbac SA (PA:), which fell 3.32% to settle in 379.00, and Ovh Groupe SAS(PA:), which dropped 3.28% to close at 26.41

On the Paris Stock Exchange, falling stocks outnumbered advancing by 280 to 279 while 81 ended unaffected.

The implied volatility index of CAC 40 options was at 0% to 18.96, a 52-week high.

For February delivery, Gold Futures fell 0.1% to $1843.00 per troy. In commodities trading, crude oil for March delivery rose 0.47 percent to $86.27 per barrel. The March Brent oil contract increased 0.50 percent to $88.94 per barrel.

EUR/USD dropped 0.12% from 1.1327 to 1.1327. EUR/GBP declined 0.25 percent to 0.8313.

US Dollar Index Futures were up 0.1% at 95.608.