One of the world’s leading market research companies saw its share price plunge today after detailing a poor performance from its US business.

The European Union’s massive democratic exercise of electing its new parliament was marked by widespread apathy and protest votes as citizens of the 25 EU nations punished their governments for everything from high unemployment to involvement in Iraq.

President Jacques Chirac’s coalition of mainstream rightist parties appeared to be heading to take control of France’s parliament following a first-round vote today, exit polls showed.