More than 500,000 people joined nationwide protests in France, which began with secondary-school students over school conditions and widened into anger over living costs and public services; about 2,400 arrests had been made by October 19. France's 2025 deficit was 5.1% of GDP and public debt 115.6% of GDP, while the OECD expects growth of just 0.7% in 2026 and 0.8% in 2027. Ten-year French bond yields climbed to around 4.9% in October, their highest in more than two decades. Pensions absorb about 32% of the Education Ministry budget, and an earlier plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 was suspended after opposition. Thai economists cite the case as a warning that persistent deficits can limit public services and options during crises.
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EUR/USD
• NeutralRelevance: low
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/20/2026 | 1.12376 |
| Change that session | +0.22% |
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