1.   Speculation that he was on the way out dominated talk in Parisian financial circles and on Wall Street ahead of the meeting.

2.   Speculation that he was on the way out dominated talk in Parisian financial circles and on Wall Street.

3.   Speculation that he was on the way out dominated talk in Parisian financial circles.

4.   Speculation about early elections has resumed with a vengeance in Parisian political circles since MPs returned to the National Assembly on Tuesday after the Easter break.