Italian PM lauds Macron's win

Rome, May 8 (IANS/AKI) Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has welcomed centrist Emmanule Macron's sweeping victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in France's Presidential runoff on Sunday.

"Hurrah for Macron President - it offers Europe hope," tweeted Gentiloni.

The pro-European Macron defeated European Union sceptic Le Pen by winning 66.1 percent of ballots against her 33.9 percent.

The euro hit a six-month high against the dollar on the news while Asian shares gained and US stocks briefly reached record levels.

--IANS/AKI

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