With or without a radical change of approach by the new president, France’s markets are surprisingly open to overseas companies.Geraldine Lambe reports.

Following the French elections, the markets are returning to normal, with plenty of activity predicted, especially in state-involved sectors. Geraldine Lambe reports on how the pace is picking up.

It is high time France was given some credit for operating an economy that is more open than most to foreign companies.

Georges Pauget, CEO of Crédit Agricole, and Gilles de Margerie, the French bank’s CFO and head of strategy, speak to Brian Caplen and Nick Kochan about their designs for a more international and diversified group.

Société Générale
Daniel Bouton, CEO

SocGen CEO Daniel Bouton talks to Karina Robinson about the sense and synergies of cross-border mergers.
Once I got over the disappointment of having lunch in the utilitarian Société Générale tower in the conurbation of La Défense, rather than in a superb Parisian restaurant such as Pierre Gagnaire, it was awfully pleasing on the food front.

The merger of Crédit Agricole and Crédit Lyonnais is proving more successful than some imagined. Chief executive Jean Laurent tells Brian Caplen how the two companies managed such a seamless integration.

French government efforts to encourage mergers between state-owned and private banks are paying off, says Jan Wagner. But Germany’s Sparkassen are resisting efforts to get them to follow suit.

Agence France Trésor has been a pioneer of European inflation-linked bonds. Natasha de Teran interviews chief executive Bertrand de Mazičres about the development of these debt instruments.

Six months after the launch of the euro, the finance markets of Paris are enjoying the success that it has brought. As Helena Frith Powell reports, the French capital has London firmly in its sights.