France

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'.

THE BIG QUESTION

Former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn is being questioned by police as a suspect in a prostitution ring inquiry, according to the BBC.

BIG INTERVIEW

Invesco Perpetual's co-head of fixed income Paul Read has said April's French presidential election is the "one to watch" for markets in 2012.

Fourth quarter eurozone GDP has come in fractionally ahead of expectations but the 0.3% drop will do little to dismiss predictions of a new recession.