The attack on the famed Champs-Élysées could bolster National Front leader Marine Le Pen's odds in the first round of France's presidential election, political analysts suggest.
Thursday's assault will reinforce security as the primary theme on voters' minds ahead of polls on Sunday. The right-wing Le Pen has strongly campaigned on security issues, and has called for an outright ban on immigration as a way to prevent radicalized youths from entering into the country.
A leading opinion poll, conducted earlier in the week, showed the more centrist Emmanuel Macron clinching the first round of vote. Last night’s shooting could now tilt the balance in Le Pen’s favour, adding to heightened volatility in European assets that has prevailed over the last two weeks.
As a result, CAC 40 futures are down in early Friday trade, and were last seen trending around 4950.
Paris Under Terror Attack
Daily Analysis - 21/04/2017