French 10-Year Bond Yield Tops 5% for First Time Since 2002

The yield on France's benchmark 10-year government bond (OAT) rose above 5% on October 21, 2026, for the first time since 2002, CNBC reported. Yield is the annual return a bond pays at its current price, and it rises as prices fall. Drivers cited include a projected 5.4%-of-GDP deficit for 2026 and elections due in six months.