Finance and Banking :
In 2000, the merger of the stock exchange markets of Amsterdam, Brusels and Paris (stocks and by-products) gave birth to Euronext, the 1st stock exchange market in Europe.

In 2002, the latter grew larger by merging with the Portuguese stock exchange market for stocks and by-products (Bolsa de Valores de Lisboa e Porto) and by purchasing LIFFE (the London by-products exchange market). Euronext was viewed as a solution to the globalisation of the markets, but also to offer more liquidities to investors and lower transactions costs.

In 2004, Euronext was the 1st European stock exchange concerning the volume of stocks exchanged (1 570 billion euros). This year Euronext announced his union with NYSE (the New York Stock Exchange) to create the larger stock exchange market in the world. This merger will be effective early 2007.

The main banks are BNP-Parisbas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole and Banque Populaire.

Insurance :
This sector is ranked 5th in the world with a turnover of 158 billion Euros in 2004. The sector counts about 600 companies and employs 200 000 workers. Axa, second European insurance company, CNP and AGF are the three leading French insurance companies.

Tourism :
It generates important income. France is the most visited country in the world with 75.1 millions tourists in 2004. The commercial surplus in this sector exceeds 34 billion Euros. Tourism represents 6,5% of the GDP.