Macron wins French execs’ backing in contest

Shares soar: A man looks at campaign posters of Macron and Le Pen in Lille. Macron’s victory in Sunday’s first round of voting lifted stocks, the euro and French bonds as investors bet he will beat Le Pen, who leads the far-right National Front party, in the May 7 run-off. — AFP

PARIS: French executives began rallying behind Emmanuel Macron, saying the former investment banker will be a more business-friendly president than Marine Le Pen by preserving the country’s place in the European Union and easing the tax and paperwork burden on companies.

Macron’s victory in Sunday’s first round of voting lifted stocks, the euro and French bonds as investors bet he will beat Le Pen, who leads the far-right National Front party, in the May 7 run-off.