Worries about economic growth pushed the French market into negative territory in afternoon trading Monday. Friday's reassuring comments from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and firm cues from Asia/Pacific failed to sustain optimism.
Crude for October delivery is slipping $0.40 at $74.77 per barrel and gold is adding $1.4 at $1238 an ounce.
In economic news, Eurozone economic confidence rose to 101.8 in August from 101.1 in July, a monthly survey from the European Commission showed. The economic sentiment index remained above its long-term average and expected reading of 101.6. Consumer confidence improved to minus 11 in August from minus 14 last month. Confidence in services rose to 7 from prior month's level of 6. Retailers confidence remained unchanged at minus 4.
After an extraordinary policy board meeting, the Bank of Japan announced an expansion to its low-interest lending program, as it bids to stem the rise in the yen. At the same time, the bank also maintained its key interest rate at near-zero.
After opening higher at 3,519, the CAC 40 erased its early gains. The index, which saw choppy trading throughout the session, is currently losing 0.45%.
France Telecom is the biggest percentage loser on the index, having fallen 3.36%. Media firm Lagardere is dipping 2.05%, while peer Vivendi is adding 1.18%. Insurer Axa is slipping 1.7%.
Among banks, Dexia is losing 1.48% and BNP Paribas is retreating 0.9%. Societe Generale and Credit Agricole are declining 0.39% and 0.34%, respectively.
Car maker Renault is retreating 1.29%, whereas Peugeot is rising 0.38%.
The winners are led by Alcatel Lucent, which is gaining 1.52%. Utility GDF SUEZ is adding 1.35%. Sanofi-Aventis, which offered to buy Genzyme, is climbing 1.2%.
Overseas, most major Asian markets rallied to end the day notably higher. China's Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.61% and Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.76%. India's BSE Sensex ended the day modestly higher by 0.19%. In Australia, All Ordinaries gathered 1.79%.
In the U.S., futures indicate a slightly lower open on Wall Street. In the previous session, the Dow surged 1.7%, the Nasdaq rallied 1.6% and the S&P 500 rose 1.7%.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.