💶 The euro rose after the first round of France’s snap election, with the far-right party winning but by a smaller margin than expected.
📉 Yen struggled against a weak dollar due to Japan’s revised first-quarter growth figures showing a larger shrinkage.
🇺🇸 Dollar slightly fell against a basket of currencies amid U.S. inflation cooling and expectations of a Fed interest rate cut in September.
🌐 Sterling, Aussie, and New Zealand dollar saw minor gains against the dollar.
📉 Yen’s decline attributed to stark interest rate differentials with the U.S. and concerns about Japan’s economy, prompting expectations of BoJ intervention.
🇨🇳 Chinese yuan also weakened against the dollar due to interest rate differentials, with PMI data suggesting challenges for China’s economy.
🗳️ Far-right parties in France have performed well in the first round of elections
🇫🇷 National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, is leading the polls
📉 President Emmanuel Macron’s party has seen a decrease in support
💬 The results reflect the growing popularity of far-right ideologies in France
💶 Euro strengthened after France’s first-round vote
🗳️ Yen facing challenges in the currency market
🗳️ Far-right Rassemblement National and allies received over a third of the votes in the French elections’ first round
🇫🇷 President Macron’s coalition ranked third with 20.7%, while the left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire alliance got 28.1% in the initial estimates
🛑 Macron urged voters to block the far right in the second round and to come together in a democratic and republican rally
⚠️ Prime Minister Attal warned voters against giving any votes to the far right, emphasizing the risk of them winning an absolute majority
🗳️ Left-wing parties called for candidates ranked third to withdraw to support higher-placed candidates to beat the far right in the second round
👥 Les Républicains party did not give instructions to their voters for the second round, expressing concerns about far-left dominance and chaos under the far right
📊 Outcome of the new legislature will depend on the results of the second round, with 577 districts to choose between two best-placed candidates
📈 Macron called snap elections after RN’s strong showing in the European Parliament elections, causing political turmoil and uncertainty in France and Europe
🗣️ Defiant Macron stood by his decision to call snap elections despite criticism, warning voters of the potential risks of a far-right or hard-left win
Far-Right Surge in France’s Snap Election
Far-right parties in France, particularly National Rally led by Marine Le Pen, have shown a strong performance in the first round of elections.
The rise of far-right ideologies in France is evident as the far-right party has gained significant support.
President Emmanuel Macron’s party has experienced a decrease in support, reflecting a shift in the political landscape towards far-right ideologies.
Macron and other political figures are urging voters to unite against the far right in the second round of elections to prevent a potential victory.
The outcome of the second round will determine the composition of the new legislature, with various parties strategizing to defeat the far right.