French shares edged up on Thursday, with the benchmark Paris CAC 40 up 0.25 percent, or 13.27 points, to close at 5,235.40 points.

Some 26 of the 40 selected large companies gained in the day.

Steel giant ArcelorMittal advanced 2.28 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. French telecom giant Orange SA rose by 1.63 percent. BNP Paribas, French banking giant, gained 1.41 percent.

Oil and gas firm Technipfmc went down by 1.96 percent, the top loser of the blue chips. French multinational mass media conglomerate Vivendi lost 1.75 percent. French food services and facilities management company Sodexo edged down 1.64 percent.