Shares in Orange, France Télécom's floated mobile phone business, finally broke through their issue price on Thursday, prompting a change of analysts' sentiment about the telecommunications sector.

The shares opened in Paris at €9.95 ($8.96), having nudged tantilisingly close to their €10 issue price for almost two weeks. During feverish trading on Thursday morning, Orange traded as high as €10.33, with well over 15 million shares changing hands.