U.S. futures tumble on China, Europe pressure

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stock market futures trade sharply lower on Monday as Europe stocks tumble on political worries and Asia falls on data that showed a continued contraction in manufacturing for China. See full story.

France�s Sarkozy, Hollande head for runoff

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to face an uphill battle to avoid becoming the latest European leader to be ousted in the wake of the global financial crisis after exit polls showed him coming in second to Socialist challenger Fran�ois Hollande in Sunday�s first-round presidential election. See full story.

French election stirs fears of euro-zone turmoil

Nicolas Sarkozy�s fading hopes for re-election have investors fretting over the potential triumph of Socialist challenger Fran�ois Hollande, but experts say either candidate will find himself in a fiscal straitjacket. See full story.

French politics, business don�t mix

Politics is politics, but business and politics mix somewhat differently in France. See full story.

Black weekend for Europe economic, monetary union

It�s been a black weekend for Europe�s economic and monetary union, with the French election, the Dutch budget failing, and new pressures on the bailouts rising in Germany, writes David Marsh. See full story.

MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY

Instead of acknowledging that banks have become a part of government, we keep pretending they are private institutions, writes David Weidner. See full story.

MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE

A few years ago, experts warned Americans against counting on the equity in their home to fund their expenses in retirement. But six years later, some are telling retirees and pre-retirees they should consider many tactics, including reverse mortgages. See full story.