France's 10-year borrowing rate has crossed the symbolic threshold of 5%, the first time since 2002, due to investor concerns over the country's ability to improve its finances. The French 10-year bond yield reached 5.005% on October 21, compared to 4.926% the previous day. This increase highlights growing doubts among investors regarding France's fiscal stability, especially after recent social unrest. The spread between French and German bonds, considered the European benchmark, widened to 1.57 percentage points, the highest since November 2011. France now borrows at a higher rate than Italy and Spain, which were previously seen as weaker links in the Eurozone. Despite a proposed budget for 2027 aiming to reduce the deficit to 5% of GDP through €43 billion in new efforts, analysts believe there is little chance of meaningful fiscal consolidation before the 2027 presidential election. Recent nationwide protests marked by looting and riots have further intensified concerns about living standards, savings, and national debt. Swiss bank UBP notes that the rise in borrowing costs increases the cost of public debt and could impact mortgage and business loan rates. Moody's is set to re-
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