France Contraction and Slowing Eurozone PMI Weigh on French Equities

France's CAC 40 index fell 0.67% to 7,759.01 on Friday amid disappointing earnings and sharp economic contraction. Flash Purchasing Managers' Index data revealed that France's private sector slipped into contraction in October, with the composite output index falling to 48.4 from 51.1 in September, missing the 50.5 consensus forecast. The French downturn weighed on the broader Eurozone, where the composite PMI slowed to a four-month low of 51.9 from 53.1 despite German resilience at 52.8. Weakness in French services at 48.4 and manufacturing at 49.3 exacerbated investor concerns across the region.