All eyes on outcome of French polls

THE local bourse - like all other global financial markets - will kick off the week reacting to the outcome of a closely-watched and pivotal event over the weekend - France's presidential election, for which the first round results will be known only on Monday.

Coming just a few days after UK Prime Minister Theresa May called for snap general elections in order to gain a strong mandate for her Brexit negotiations, France's tight four-way contest between Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen, François Fillon, and Jean-Luc Melenchon has led to market jitters over a potential "Frexit'' or France exiting the European Union, depending on who wins the elections.

The French polls are seen as the most uncertain political elections in recent years and hold important implications in financial markets.