Markit Economics released its preliminary manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) for France on Tuesday. France's preliminary manufacturing PMI dropped to 49.6 in March from 50.2 in February. Analysts had expected the index to remain unchanged at 50.2.

France's preliminary services PMI climbed to 51.2 in March from 49.2 in February. Analysts had expected the index to rise to 49.5.

The services index was driven by a rise in new business.

"Overall, PMI data suggest a further modest rise in GDP during Q1, doing little to suggest any break from the sluggish growth pattern seen during recent times," the Senior Economist at Markit Jack Kennedy said.