Centrist Macron, Far-Right Leader Le Pen

Centrist Macron, Far-Right Leader Le Pen On French Presidential Race

In the first round of voting on Sunday in France the two names emerged for the presidential race are Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

London-based fund manager and head of currency management at Insight Investment Management, Paul Lambert, said Macron may win in the second round and euro will be benefitted.

Washington-based partner at economic research firm Cornerstone Macro, Roberto Perli, said the safe-haven flows should undergo some reversal similar to what was seen in March and upward pressure on term premia should be generated along with on the rates in the US bond market.

Perli added, “So far pretty much everything is in line with expectations with the euro-higher.”

He continued Le Pen will be facing high hurdle in the country.

Head of rates strategy at Rabobank in London, Richard McGuire, said the Centrist voters will rally around Macron and this will be a pro-European, pro-establishment result.

He added the country wants to see tightening of European sovereign spreads.

London-based economist at Bluebay Asset Management, Timothy Ash, said most of the voters went for mainstream candidates despite all the hype and it seems Trump marked the turning point.

Ash added further similar is going to be seen in Germany, UK and Dutch elections too.

CEO of Consultancy Opimas in Paris, Octavio Marenzi, said Marine Le Pen and her party need to persuade voters as her economic policy is similar in several aspects to rival Melenchon Luckily.

Marenzi continued, “Macron will be reassuring to markets, with his pledge to lower corporate taxes and to lighten the administrative burden on firms.”