U.S. stock indexes climb on earnings

MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE

U.S. stocks climb on better-than-expected quarterly results from General Electric, Microsoft and others. 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 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.

French election is clouded mirror of U.S. race

As France gears up for the first round of its presidential election on Sunday, it is striking how a French presidential election manages to be both different and yet curiously similar to presidential elections in that country it contrasts itself most against, the United States. 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.