Greece election raises hopes for euro

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.

Immediate fears of a euro break-up were put on hold as it appeared Greece had voted pro-austerity parties into power.

In France, President François Hollande’s Socialist Party won a clear majority in the general election, pushing for growth measures to temper austerity.