German and Portuguese election results

The centre-right Christian Democrat-Christian Democratic Union block has won the German election.

Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel will now be holding talks with the pro-business Free Democrats with the intention of forming a coalition, according to the BBC.

According to Market Watch's Polya Lesova, this has caused stocks in German nuclear power plant operators to rise, while shares in solar-related companies have fallen, due to belief that the coalition will cut the feed-in tariffs that the industry benefits from.

In Portugal, the ruling Socialist Party were also re-elected, but with a reduced majority.

Unlike with Germany, Portugal does not seem to be drifting to the right, with large-scale public projects promised by Prime Minister Jose Socrates.