French bonds fall as protests over budget cuts turn violent

Briefing by News4U · First published 2026-10-19 11:00:45 UTC

Yields on French 10-year bonds rose seven basis points to 4.849% after weekend riots, widening the spread over German debt.

French government bonds fell Monday after violent protests over planned budget-deficit cuts left public buildings burned and thousands arrested. The 10-year yield rose seven basis points to 4.849%, widening the gap with German yields. [1] [2] [3]

President Macron condemned the “unbridled violence” in a televised address. The government is preparing a budget that would cut pensions and non-defense spending to reduce the 5.1% deficit. [2]

Sources

1. French Government-Bond Yields Rise on Protests, Budget Concerns; Treasury Yields Fall

   WSJ Markets · 2026-10-19 06:19:00 UTC · Summary only

2. France hit by debt sell-off as protests unnerve investors

   The Guardian · 2026-10-19 07:32:59 UTC · Full text

3. France’s Bonds Drop as Rioting Heaps Pressure on Government

   Bloomberg · 2026-10-19 07:43:55 UTC · Summary only

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