French shares edged up on Tuesday, with the benchmark Paris CAC 40 up 0.21 percent, or 11 points, to close at 5,218.89 points.

A total of 24 of the 40 selected large companies gained in the day.

French bank Credit Agricole advanced 2.79 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. Schneider electric, French multinational corporation specializing in energy management and automation solutions, rose 1.53 percent, and French tire group Michelin gained 1.11 percent.

French food services and facilities management company Sodexo went down by 0.91 percent, the top loser of the blue chips. French banking giant Societe Generale edged down 0.63 percent and French multinational dairy group Danone lost 0.53 percent.