(AFX UK Focus) 2008-10-01 12:27 UPDATE 1-French Sept new car sales up 8.4 pct (Interactive Investor)

PARIS, Oct 1 (Reuters) - French new passenger car sales rose 8.4 percent in September over the same month last year for rise of 3.4 percent in the first nine months of the year, defying a downturn in the rest of Europe amid consumer tax breaks, carmakers said on Thursday. The rise represents a turnaround after a 7 percent drop in August but still equates to a 1.4 percent fall from September last ...