French central bank cuts Q1 growth forecast

France's central bank lowered its first-quarter growth prediction on Wednesday to 0.3 percent from 0.4 percent after several sectors reported a sudden slowdown.

A survey of companies in several sectors found that production and deliveries in the pharmaceutical and machine manufacturing sectors hit a sticky patch in February after several months of rises.

"Production stoppages led to a decline in pharmaceuticals output, while the machinery sector also registered a fall. The automobile and plastics and rubber sectors improved," the bank said in a statement.

It noted that the slowdown in orders from outside France was particularly pronounced.

The figures were announced as protesters across France demonstrated against the Socialist government's attempts to reform labour laws.