France

"Forget the economic conditions and politics. Focus on who is running the companies that you have in your portfolio and what they can do over the next five years."

Political concerns remain

Must not fall into 'FOMO' trap

Concerns from BoE and ministers

Inflows over August and July

Improved political visibility

'Lynchpin' for global stability

EEC founded in 1957

Japan was worst performing

Mark Burgess, CIO EMEA and Global Head of Equities at Columbia Theadneedle Investments, considers the potential impact on markets of electing Le Pen, and the volatile consequences that this would have on French assets.