The CAC 40 ended down 1.43% at 3785.30 points. Other European stock markets also closed in the red: the Footsie in London has yielded 1.65%, the Frankfurt DAX 1.66% and 1.62% Eurostoxx 50. After growing slowly in the early morning, the Paris market has swung into the red following the publication of an unexpected fall in industrial production in Germany (-1.8%) last October. Investors are also under pressure while in Greece the deficits have slipped dangerously leading rating agency Fitch downgraded the long-term debt of this country from A-to BBB +.
The statement made Monday by Ben Bernanke on monetary policy of the United States has not given clear direction to markets.The chairman of the Federal Reserve has however indicated that the central bank would keep interest rates at an unusually low for an extended period, while some economists fear the opposite.
The values of the day
Alcatel-Lucent is 1.33%. The telecoms equipment maker announced it has signed an agreement with Bouygues Telecom to test the 4G, the next generation technology of mobile broadband. Alcatel-Lucent is also the most action surrounded the square in Paris on Tuesday, with nearly 13 million shares traded.
EADS yields 1.41%. Air Algeria and ATR reported Monday the signing of a contract for four ATR 72-500 aircraft for delivery in 2010.The contract amount is 82 million.
Stallergenes (-0.26%) expressed Monday "very positive" three years of a long term study on the allergy tablet, Oralair, to assess the long-term effect and persistence of this effect after stopping treatment.