France's Macron extends lead over Le Pen in run-off vote, poll shows

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's extended his lead over Marine Le Pen in a hypothetical run-off vote, the results of a daily poll showed.

According to Opinionway's Wednesday poll, Macron extended his lead over the Far Right's Le Pen from 61% to 39% on Tuesday to 63% against 37%.

The difference between the respective levels of support for the two was thus back near its widest since 14 February, when it stood at 64% to 36%.

Wednesday's poll also pointed to a decline in voters' support for Le Pen in the first round of voting scheduled for 23 April.

Le Pen would make off with 25% of the ballots in April, Opinionway calculated, down from 26% on Tuesday, with support for Macron steady at a record 24%.

Socialist Benoit Hamon's position ahead of the first round of voting also improved in the latest tally, rising from 15% to 16%.

As of 1154 GMT the yield on the benchmark 10-year French government bond yield was two basis points higher to 0.91% and that on similarly-dated German Bunds higher by five basis points at 0.26%, cutting the implied 'risk premium' to 65 basis points.