Financial analysts' reaction to French vote

PARIS (Reuters) - Right-wing candidate Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist rival Segolene Royal will face each other in France's May 6 presidential run-off after they came through a first-round vote on Sunday, incomplete Interior Ministry results showed.

Below are comments from financial analysts on the first-round election result.

DAVID BUIK AT CANTOR INDEX:

"This is a great result for French business and the CAC."

"France has a chance of dragging itself into the 21st century".

MICHEL MARTINEZ AT SG ASSET MANAGEMENT:

"Stock markets should react positively to these results which were in line with earlier opinion polls."

FRANCOIS CHAULET AT MONTSEGUR FINANCE:

"There are far more important elements to consider than the election results, such as the wave of merger and acquisition activity."

"The election's impact is diluted by the fact that most French companies make much of their money outside of France."