French Luxury Stores Board Up for Saturday Protests

Luxury boutiques across France boarded up windows and added security ahead of Saturday protests, with some planning to stay closed after rioters looted shops last weekend. The measures aim to protect stores in Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux. A Rolex retailer and De Beers store near Place Vendome will remain closed, while other brands like IWC may close early depending on protest intensity. Student union UNEF and Yellow Vest groups plan to march against high living costs and public service cuts. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez will deploy 70,000 police officers with specialist units to prevent violence. The unrest adds pressure on luxury brands already facing slowing tourism and weak consumer sentiment due to the Iran war, which contributed to disappointing quarterly reports at LVMH, Hermes, and Kering.