Markit Economics released its preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for France on Wednesday. France's preliminary manufacturing PMI rose to 51.6 in December from 50.6 in November, beating forecasts of a decline to 50.5.

France's preliminary services PMI decreased to 50.0 in December from 51.0 in November. Analysts had expected the index to fall to 50.8.

"French private sector output growth nearly ground to a halt at the end of 2015 amid faltering new business intakes. A slowdown in the dominant service sector was the driver, with some panellists indicating that their new business intakes had been impacted following the recent terrorist attacks," the Senior Economist at Markit Jack Kennedy said.