PARIS, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- French shares edged up on Wednesday, with the benchmark Paris CAC 40 up 0.81 percent, or 42.68 points, to close at 5,331.28 points.

A total of 33 of the 40 selected large companies gained in the day.

STMicroelectronics, a French-Italian multinational electronics and semiconductor manufacturer, advanced 3.06 percent, the top gainer of the blue chips. LafargeHolcim, French-Swiss multinational manufacturer of building materials, rose 2.99 percent, and Steel manufacturing corporation ArcelorMittal gained 2.62 percent.

French multinational advertising and public relations company Publicis Groupe went down by 2.22 percent, the top loser of the blue chips. The international telecommunication company Bouygues edged down 0.46 percent and French construction group Vinci lost 0.42 percent. Enditem