French equities suffered their worst day in nearly two weeks on Monday, weighing on European shares after rioting erupted in cities across the country over the weekend.
France’s blue-chip CAC 40 index fell 1.1%, while the pan-European STOXX 600 index slipped 0.9% to 639.1 points.
Triggered by rising prices and worsening public services, the protests have soured investor sentiment towards a country already grappling with weak growth and rising debt.
The turmoil in the euro zone’s second-largest economy, which adds to political uncertainty ahead of the presidential election in 2027, has also been partly responsible for keeping the STOXX 600 index stuck within a narrow range over the past month.