The French stock market benchmark index CAC 40 experienced a decrease of 0.48 percent to close at 4,252.29 points on Friday, down 20.46 points.
With the manufacturing activities slowing down in the euro-zone and the fact that most of the stockers won't be back into work until Jan. 5, the CAC 40 closed the first trading day of 2015 lower. Among the 40 selected companies, 31 ended the first trading day of 2015 with a decrease.
The top three gainers of today were Credit Agricole, up 1.30 percent, Capgemini, up 1.08 percent, and Societe Generale, up 1.06 percent.
The three companies that lost most today were Essilor Intl., down 1.81 percent, Air Liquide, down 1.41 percent, and L'Oreal, down 1.36 percent.
In previous trading day, Dec. 31, 2014 , the CAC 40 gained a slight advance of 0.64 percent to close at 4,272.75 points, up 27.21 points.