69.42% of French voters have cast their votes at 17:00 local time, 15:00 GMT. Turnout stood at 70.6% in 2012, 73.9% in 2007 and 58.5 in 2002.
The turnout can be interpreted in either way.
Update: Official French exit polls: Macron wins first round 23.7%, Le Pen 21.7% – EUR/USD should rise
Update: Exit polls show Macron and Le Pen advance – Belgian TV
Expectations were for a low turnout, something that would have supported the right. Both Le Pen and Fillon enjoy solid bases, while Macron needs a break of undecideds towards him.
Is this kind of turnout low or still relatively high? The campaigns probably know if their voters are turning out or not.
Here are our four scenarios for trading the French elections with EUR/USD.
According to some analysts, a low turnout of only 60% could be seen, so we are already above this level. That is the euro-optimistic explanation.
Voting ends at 20:00 local time, 18:00 GMT, and exit polls are expected immediately afterward. Real results will begin dripping in within hours. A clear picture could emerge around midnight local time. Nonetheless, if the voting between the leading four candidates is close, we might need to wait until the morning.
French elections – all the updates in one place
