Nicolas Sarkozy

Sunday's elections in France and Greece were a firm vote against austerity, and regardless of the merits of either side of the debate, that means the future of the eurozone is again in doubt. Here's why the bond markets care so much -- and why you should, too.

European and U.S. markets sank Tuesday as investors worried whether Greece, after an inconclusive election, would be able to form a new government to save it from financial disaster.

The roiling political landscape of Europe pushed U.S. stock futures lower Monday as beleaguered voters in Greece and France rejected years of painful budget cuts. The Dow fell 46 points to 12,911. The S&P 500 slipped 5.7 points to 1,356.80. The Nasdaq fell 12 points to 2,613.50.

Stock markets in Europe traded in fairly narrow ranges Monday as Germany's leader warned that Greece may not get its next batch of bailout cash. Chinese shares surged after authorities pledged to increase bank lending to entrepreneurs. Europe's stumbling efforts to get a handle on its debt crisis remains the focus of interest in the markets.

American household incomes have fallen more since the recession ended than they fell during it, a new study reveals; EU leaders say they have a plan to solve the sovereign debt crisis; and Netflix has declared its big Qwikster plan dead on arrival.

Investors should stay focused on the dynamics within European politics that shaped the rescue. Other indebted economies -- like Spain, Portugal and Italy -- could find themselves in a similar situation, after all. And politics will again guide market moves.

France's Parliament voted to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 in a move supporters say may preserve the country's pension system. Yet the proposal has also caused nationwide strikes.

It would appear that France and Britain are on the same page when it comes to bankers' bonuses. Their leaders certainly are -- literally. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown co-wrote an opinion piece in Thursday's Wall Street Journal calling for governments...

The heavily taxed French like to grouse about all the levies they pay, but there's a new tax that's turned that constant grumble into a roar. Called la taxe carbone, or the carbon tax, the new levy would charge businesses and individuals €17 for every ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) they produce....