AROUND THE WORLD'S MARKETS: PARIS

IN PARIS, the CAC-40 index closed down 0.86 per cent at 4,313,69 after US markets fell amid renewed fears of rising US interest rates.

Societe Generale and Paribas added 3.07 per cent at 181.2 euros and 1.42 per cent at 107.5 euros respectively, amid rumours of possible raised bids for the banking stocks. Cement producers Lafarge and Ciments Francais rose 3.39 per cent and 1.43 per cent on the back of broker upgrades. Pernod lost 4.8 per cent at 63.50 euros amid reports it was aiming to bid for Allied Domecq's spirits unit.