Sundial of world news

The shock wave propagated at the speed of lightning Thursday in the Gulf as the rest of the world. The near collapse of the emirate of Dubai, obliged to ask its creditors for a moratorium of six months for two of its major companies, Dubai World and Nakheel, unable to repay the 59 billion they have borrowed, shook all financial markets.

Asian stock markets continued their decline Friday. Tokyo has fallen by more than 3.0% in closing, while Hong Kong fell by 3.45% in mid-session. Shanghai posted a decline of 1.05% in mid-session. Seoul ended a slump of 4.69%."The last thing you would see is a domino effect, alarmed investment bank EFG-Hermes, which fears the deferred payment of debts of other firms, notably in emerging countries.

Not surprisingly, the rating agencies Moody's and Standard & Poor's has downgraded six of the largest groups of Dubai, including DP World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, the company's water and electricity, and the giant of the Real Estate Emaar Properties. "Although Nakheel is not rated by Moody's, this is an important precedent for a leading company facing difficulties to pay its debts and relying on government for support, accuses the agency.

Snowball effect

The risk of a snowball effect is real.Dubai, which has more particularly on its neighbor Abu Dhabi to come to his aid, can undermine the confidence of investors in the Gulf. Investors including many Westerners are. Among the creditors of Dubai World, one finds the British banks Barclays, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, but BNP Paribas and Credit Suisse. According to the latter, the exposure of European banks, however, does not exceed 13 billion euros.

In 2008, the emirate has attracted to itself for 21 billion dollars of foreign investment. Today, these investors may be concerned not only the financial health of Dubai, but also the countries of the Federation of UAE and the entire region.

For its part, Dubai, symbol of easy money, won, lack of oil, the real estate and finance, has a huge portfolio of foreign assets.It is the largest foreign investor in Tunisia and has launched many projects in the Maghreb, although some of them have been frozen because of the crisis.

He is a shareholder in several large companies in Asia, including Sony, the United States and Russia, where he acquired a leading electricians. It also has holdings in Europe, particularly in EADS. If decided, as feared, some investors to sell off its pay its debts, the consequences could be catastrophic for the financial market confidence. And they are equally if Abu Dhabi was to withdraw from Daimler, which owns 9% to help. Closed Thursday, Wall Street will give his ruling on Friday.

"The emirate of Dubai on the brink of bankruptcy

This year, 43% of the French plan to reduce their Christmas spending, according to an Ipsos poll conducted for France Bleu.

45% of respondents reported crop priority in their budget gifts while the proportion remained unchanged at meals. 37% of respondents also believe in spending less on decor, followed by clothing (36%) and holidays (35%).

You intend to reduce your spending Christmas, how will you compensate for the reduction in your budget? Purchases in advance or last minute offers flash web, used goods, what are your tricks to keep from spoiling your loved ones?

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Lehman Brothers estimates have been robbed. Lawyers for the holding company representing the defunct U.S. bank filed a complaint against the British bank Barclays in order to recover billions of dollars wrongly attributed to it at the sale in secret activities of brokerage Lehman in September 2008. In a complaint filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan (New York), Lehman believes that the sale was "secretly arranged at the outset to provide a benefit that Barclays was not expected" and that the bankruptcy judge has not been informed at the time.

Lehman Barclays accuses of having been awarded some $ 7 billion of assets in excess of the transaction, plus 5 billion once the sale is concluded.

In its complaint, the U.S. bank, which had declared bankruptcy in September 15, 2008 following the subprime crisis and the refusal of the U.S. state to help, now wants to make as Barclays Lehman "all profits obtained improperly, and damages. Among its charges, including Lehman puts into question the role of several of its leaders at the time who took part in the transaction before joining Barclays Capital.

Dark period for producers of solar energy. Q-Cells, one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar cells, reported a loss of nearly 1 billion euros over the first nine months of the year, against a profit of 150 million euros over the same period in 2008. Its turnover in nine months has, meanwhile, fell sharply by 40.9% yoy to 550.3 million euros.

The group Q-Cells said the decline coupled turnover and results by falling prices of photovoltaic cells, a background of economic crisis and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers, which enjoy much lower costs and massive government aid programs.

The Conergy Group, number two German industry has recorded its share down 41% of its sales in the third quarter while its counterpart Phoenix Solar, which specializes in installing solar panels on the roofs of buildings, revised downward its forecast for growth in turnover.

The Chinese group JA Solar is one of those who profit from the current weakness of its European competitors. With a volume of record quarterly shipments, the Asian group could return to profitability in the third quarter.

To adapt to this changing market, Q-Cells, as rival Norwegian Renewable Energy, has already started to transfer Asian part of its production to reduce costs.

Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the action Q-Cells lost 3.86% to 10.93 euros in mid-session while Phoenix Solar yielded 4.88% to 35.10 euros.Conergy was also in the red, falling 2.53% to 0.77 euros.

Tax revenues of local governments will increase substantially in 2009. This is announced by the Directorate General of Local Authorities (DGCL), in a note released Wednesday. The DGCL estimated that the four direct taxes tax, residence tax and taxes on land and buildings not built should bring $ 71 billion to local governments. The increase in local taxes would be 8.1%, nearly double the increase of 2008 (+4.4%). This increase is explained by buoyant tax bases (+4.7%) and a significant increase in rates (+3.4%). This increase affects all communities but especially the departments and municipalities. "The departments have their rates increased more than other communities," said the DGCL, considering the increase of revenues to 11.4%, including 6.3% due to higher rates.Conversely, "the development of overall tax revenue from other communities still more effect than the base rate effect".

According to the notes, business tax, hotly debated in the context of discussions on the 2010 budget, expected to yield 31.3 billion euros, the housing tax 16.5 billion, the tax on built property 22 3 billion and that the undeveloped 880 million. Local taxes are 39% of operating revenue of local governments.

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Very good month of October for new car sales in France. According to figures released Monday by the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA), new registrations have increased by 20.1% in October. In all, 210,140 new registrations were recorded during this month, an increase of the market by 25.6% on a working day adjusted. October were 22 working days, against 23 in October 2008. In September the market had already been marked by a significant jump (+14.1%).

In October, the French brands achieve very good performance with an increase of 21.8% for PSA Peugeot Citro?n (+7.2% in ten months) and 34.5% for Renault (+6.3%% on ten months). On Nissan Motor, which Renault has a share of 44%, sales rose 39.9% last month. Since January, Nissan's registrations are up 7.1%.Foreign brands generally have their registrations rise by 14.1%.

According to Fran?ois Roudier, spokesman for the CCFA, the market has again benefited from the triple effect of scrapping bonus, bonus and ecological attractiveness of the new models that appeal to customers and were heavily controlled . The result is disappointing in contrast to the light commercial vehicles (-22.4%) and trucks (-54.5%), road transport and construction through a difficult economic phase.

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