France

Those looking to maximise returns in the first half of the year should have parked their money in Eastern European equity markets such as Hungary and the Czech Republic, according to data from S&P's.

The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has chosen French finance minister Christine Lagarde as its new director.

The economies of the 17 countries in the single currency block grew 0.8% in the first three months of 2011, up from 0.3% in Q4, figures released today reveal.

French asset management firm Carmignac Gestion has announced its intention to expand into the UK market this year.

The FTSE 100 rose 1% to 5,871.5 points by 1.45pm today, propelled by the mining sector.

France will be the next eurozone country in the firing line for bond investors, the chief of the London Stock Exchange believes.

The recovery in both France and Germany, Europe's largest economies, slowed considerably in the third quarter.

Former SocGen trader Jérôme Kerviel was today sentenced to five years in prison for the rogue activities which cost the French bank €4.9bn. Here is a recap of what the bank calls 'an exceptional fraud'.

Jérôme Kerviel, the rogue trader who almost sent French giant Société Générale to the brink of collapse, has been sentenced to five years in prison and told to reimburse the bank €4.9bn.

French MEPs may veto the Alternative Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) including a key provision for passporting of investment products, which would allow fund managers to sell products across Europe.