European stocks extend slide as French protests dent risk appetite

Barco NV

20/10/2026 08:03

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Oct 20 (Reuters) - European shares extended losses on Tuesday as investors weighed the impact of political instability in France, which has dampened risk appetite across regional markets.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX was down 0.27% at 637.84 points by 0709 GMT, after slipping 0.8% in the previous session. France's benchmark CAC 40 index .FCHI edged 0.2% lower. 
Late on Monday, French authorities set curfews in parts of several cities including Paris, Lille and Nice a weekend of riots and looting stemming from nationwide anti-government protests.
The protests have intensified pressure on the euro zone's second-largest economy, which is grappling with soft economic growth and ballooning government debt. The unrest also underscores the challenges the government faces in reducing its large deficit.
Elsewhere, investors assessed a raft of corporate earnings reports.    
French cloud operator OVHcloud OVH.PA jumped 8.5% after reporting its first positive levered free cash flow since its 2021 listing, as its revenue grew 7.2% to €1.15 billion ($1.29 billion) in the financial year through August.
Shares of Barco BAR.BR dropped 12.9% after the visualisation technology company forecast full-year sales to come in slightly below last year's levels, with an EBITDA margin of about 11%.
        
      



 (Reporting by Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
 ((Avinash.P@thomsonreuters.com;))