The attack came three days before the first round of France's tense presidential election.

Regardless of who wins the French election, European stocks are headed for a correction, according to Deutsche Bank. That’s a view at odds with many of the region’s strategists who expect relief if they lose.

European leaders must not miss the upcoming chance to start putting integration back on track, write Herman Van Rompuy, Fabian Zuleeg, and Janis A Emmanouilidis. 

Goldman Sachs has recommended its clients take a short position on French government bond futures maturing in June ahead of two-round presidential elections that begin later this month.

The eurozone’s accelerating economy is translating into faster job creation and stronger inflation pressures as a key gauge of activity yesterday rose to a near six-year high in March, and employment increased the most since July 2007, with hiring picking up in services and manufacturing. 

The Government is on course to sell up to €3bn worth of shares in AIB in late May — providing that the outcome of looming French election does not disturb banking markets.

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European shares rose and US stocks hit record highs yesterday, helped by corporate results, while uncertainty about French elections pushed the euro to its biggest loss in about three weeks.

Nine months before the presidential election, the candidates could well be the unpopular incumbent, Francois Hollande, his equally unpopular predecessor, Nicholas Sarkozy, and the far-right’s Marine Le Pen, says Noah Barkin

The race to be the next president of France could come down to voting for whoever will do the least damage, writes Noah Barkin. 

Hopes that the euro crisis — as well as austerity measures imposed on countries such as Ireland — might ease have been raised by the outcome of the Greek and French elections.

A win by François Hollande in next week’s French presidential election should be seen as an “invitation” to Ireland to say yes to the Fiscal Compact treaty, according to a former adviser to his Socialist party.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will “actively support” French President Nicolas Sarkozy, a fellow conservative, in his spring campaign to win re-election, said her Christian Democrat (CDU) party in Berlin.

France went going to the polls today in the first round of a presidential contest notable for its lacklustre campaigning and widespread voter apathy.