France

Will excessive caution lead wealth managers to miss out on lucrative opportunities? Katie Holliday reports.

Slowing industrial production is the largest headwind facing Northern Europe in the near term, according to Newton's bond manager Paul Brain.

UK funds could share a $5bn windfall after the European Court of Justice ruled foreign investment funds that invest in French companies should not be liable for a discriminatory withholding tax on dividends.

Patrick Sumner, head of property equities at Henderson Global Investors, has warned investors the market is pricing in a substantial fall in property values across Europe.

France's AAA credit rating is safe, according to ratings agency Fitch, which has reassured market the election of Socialist President Francois Hollande has no implications for the country's credit rating.

French and Greek election results have spooked investors, as strong opposition to austerity reignites fears over the future of the single currency.

VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

ON UK GROWTH

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has lost the first round of the presidential election to his socialist rival Francois Hollande.

The UK is back in recession, according to the latest growth projections from the OECD, while the recovery in the G7 economies remains ‘fragile'.