Around the World's Markets: Paris

TUESDAY'S SLIDE on Wall Street prompted heavy losses in early Paris trade, but stocks recovered later in the session as the Dow Jones index clawed back ground. The CAC-40 ended down just 21.31 points, or 0.5 per cent, at 4058.16, having been more than 1 per cent lower earlier in the day.

Major movers included the banks Paribas and Societe Generale, which pleased the market with a pledge to double the value of their holding should their planned merger go ahead.