French shares declined for a second day on Oct. 20 and a government bond benchmark rose while officials outlined aid for businesses damaged during weekend protests.
France's CAC 40 closed at 7,838.49, down 0.38%, following a 1.11% decline on Oct. 19. The STOXX Europe 600 finished at 638.64, down 0.14%, while Germany's DAX stood at 25,304.42, down 0.06%.
Bank of France data put TEC10 at 4.928% on Oct. 20, up from 4.853% on Oct. 19. TEC10 is a daily reference rate for French government debt with a constant 10-year maturity, rather than an intraday bond quote.
The market figures show the subsequent moves but do not establish how much the protests contributed to them.
France's Interior Ministry estimated that 550,000 people joined Oct. 17 marches over living costs and school conditions.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he had directed prefects, the state's local representatives, to introduce partial curfews to protect people and property, particularly shops. The Economy Ministry outlined zero-interest Bpifrance loans of up to €50,000 over three years to help affected businesses replace stock and meet immediate payments. It also described a support fund for firms with fewer than 50 employees that suffered significant damage.
The package also includes state-funded wage support for employees unable to work because of the damage.
France's debt agency, Agence France Trésor, lists Oct. 23 as Moody's next rating date. It records France's rating as Aa3 with a negative outlook. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told lawmakers that authorities were preparing security measures for possible demonstrations Saturday, Oct. 24.
