[Grampa Dave]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?siteid=mktw&dist=nwham&guid=%7BEB079F53%2D81A0%2D4419%2DB9DB%2D88FE635355F9%7D

Euro, DAX fall after election deadlock

By Steve Goldstein, MarketWatch
Last Update: 11:51 AM ET Sept. 19, 2005
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LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The euro tumbled against the dollar and the German stock market declined Monday after both Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats claimed the right to form a governing coalition in parliamentary elections in Germany.

The euro recently was down at $1.2149 vs. $1.2235 on Friday, reaching a seven-month low, and the German DAX 30 stock market index ended 1.2% lower at 4,926, and had dropped earlier as low as 4,872.

Figures suggest Merkel's CDU/CSU only won only a three-seat majority, 225-222, over the SPD in Germany's lower house. See story.

Both Merkel and Schroeder on Sunday night claimed the right to govern Europe's largest economy.

Analysts said markets were reacting to both the paralysis and the weak mandate for economic reforms.

[SierraWasp]

Hay Grampa! Everybudy knows the Left NEVER loses!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!

[BOBTHENAILER]

Analysts said markets were reacting to both the paralysis and the weak mandate for economic reforms.

You can say that again.