Around the World's Markets: Paris

THE BLUE-CHIP CAC-40 index ended marginally up 0.03 per cent at 4,186.35 as Wall Street tracked back. "Everyone was waiting for the Dow to hit 10,000 and when it did we saw a wave of sell orders," said one market-maker.

Renault slumped 5.45 per cent amid selling by US clients worried about the risks of an alliance with Nissan. France Telecom closed down 1.77 per cent ahead of results today, dragging the CAC down 9 points. But a 3.35 per cent rise at the insurance giant Axa countered France Telecom's slide.