French Business Mood Steady at 96 as Production Signals Diverge

France’s overall business climate indicator remained at 96 in July, matching both market expectations and the previous month’s reading, according to data released on Thursday. Manufacturing confidence also held steady at 96, slightly below the consensus estimate of 97. The broader production outlook indicator improved marginally to minus 12 from minus 13, aligning with forecasts, while firms’ own-company production outlook deteriorated to minus 4, missing expectations for a neutral reading and slipping from minus 1 in June.