French share prices head lower in hesitant trading

Share prices were broadly lower in hesitant trading on the Paris Stock Exchange Thursday as investors were still nervous about European debt issues and dissatisfied with the outcome of the Franco-German summit on Europe's financial problems held here Tuesday. Wall Street's flat performance Wednesday also left the market weaker ahead of the publication this week of important US economic data, traders said. The CAC 40 index of "Blue Chip" shares lost ground from the opening bell and was 1.43 percent down at 3,207.77 points about 90 minutes after exchanges began. Volume was moderate at USD 700 million, "Boursorma" brokerage reported. Traders said that investors were trying to "integrate the outcome" of a meeting here between President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angel Merkel Tuesday evening but there was an impression that measures announced to stem debt and calm markets did not go far enough. The Euro was stable in early trading at USD 1.4433, up 0.6 percent from the previous day. (end) jk.asa KUNA 181220 Aug 11NNNN