28TH CEO CONFERENCE : All the key insights from our CEO Conference

Research evidence excerpt

28TH CEO CONFERENCE : All the key insights from our CEO Conference

EQUITIES

28TH CEO CONFERENCE

All the key insights from our CEO Conference

Corporate commentary: Bullish!

8 JUNE 2026

Sector Research Report Last week we had the pleasure of hosting 130+ blue chip companies at the 28th BNP Paribas CEO

Production time: 04:27 (London time) Conference in Paris. There was little sign of the Middle East conflict weighing on sentiment – our

Research Analysts & Publishing Entities analysts assessed 79% of corporates as positive in tone, up from 65% in 2025, with zero overtly

negative. The aggregate message was still of surprisingly resilient demand especially in the US, with

management teams focusing on their ability to offset oil inflation risk via pricing.

Dennis Jose

BNP Paribas London Branch

What are CEOs saying?

(+44) 203 430 8479

dennis.jose@uk.bnpparibas.com Five themes stood out: 1) Hormuz resilience, 2) Pricing power, 3) Robust but K-shaped US consumer

demand, 4) EU + China consumer relative sogginess and 5) Insatiable AI/datacentre demand. Most

companies, including Airlines, were confident on being able to manage Hormuz disruption and pass

costs back. Unlike last year, we also had several specific examples highlighting AI implementation

within businesses. Meanwhile, AI enabler companies were understandably very bullish on demand.

What are investors saying?

Interest in AI enablers was high, with Schneider Electric, STM and others standing room only.

However, we felt investors, especially those in the US, were underinvested here, with many hoping

for a pullback to buy. At the same time, with some signs of froth and a heavy IPO calendar emerging,

AI bubble concerns have resurfaced, with the debate focused on whether we see a broadening out

in markets.