PARIS, October 19. /TASS/. The benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange, CAC 40, fell by more than 1% amid the widespread unrest that swept across France over the past weekend, raising investors' concerns on the state of the country’s public debt, AFP news agency reported.
As of 10:30 a.m. Moscow time (7:30 a.m. GMT), the index was down by 1.24%, according to the agency. Among the biggest decliners were shares of banks, retail chains, and companies operating in the tourism sector. Shares of BNP Paribas fell by 2.41%, Societe Generale shares lost 2.36%, shares of Carrefour dropped by 3.04%, while shares of the hotel group Accor lost 3.03%.
Deutsche Bank analysts have warned that the recent unrest could negatively affect the willingness of international investors to purchase French government bonds.
France’s national debt is approaching 3.6 trillion euros.
Mass protests against rising fuel prices and the declining purchasing power of the population took place in Paris and across France on October 17. According to organizers, some 800,000 people took part in the protests, while the interior ministry put the number of protesters at 550,000. In a number of cities, protest rallies escalated into riots and clashes with police. Almost 2,400 protesters were detained across the country. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez pledged that the authorities would continue persecuting plunders and looters.