French political jitters unnerve European markets
Financial markets struggle with economic and political concerns as the euro nears its biggest fall this year and bond yield spreads over Germany reach widest in years
London — European financial markets struggled with growing economic and political concerns on Tuesday as the euro neared its biggest fall this year and bond yield spreads over Germany reached the widest in several years. The dollar sped higher towards its biggest gain in a month against a basket of major currencies after jumping against the offshore Chinese yuan on the fall in Beijing’s foreign exchange reserves below $3-trillion for the first time in six years. European corporate earnings offered investors some cheer even though oil giant BP missed estimates, but failed to completely shrug off the unease fuelled by the growing unpredictability of the French presidential election race. Far-right National Front Leader Marine le Pen has vowed to fight globalisation and take France out of the eurozone, while conservative candidate Francois Fillon on Monday vowed to fight on for the presidency despite a damaging scandal involving taxpayer-funded payments to his wife. Earlier on Tuesday,...
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