Jun 12




For many employees of EDF, is the safety of nuclear plants is at stake They are concerned about an internal memo released Saturday by Le Parisien in France today, which aims to increase the maximum working in nuclear plants during "outages", those moments during which the reactors are closed, including maintenance.

During these periods unprofitable, EDF would indeed be able to quickly restart the reactor by its employees to work harder. The letter dated May 10 and addressed by the deputy director of EDF's nuclear generation, Philippe Druelle, each plant manager, and plans "to request exceptions to the limits to working with the inspectors work" or Regional Labour Directorate. EDF would like to apply a measure "by the summer of 211".

The project raises the ire of unions and employees' concerns. "EDF is organized to legalize abuses Hourly unacceptable and dangerous for employees and therefore nuclear safety," said the CGT. "EDF wants to push through and have hands on working time of its executives, including weekends and holidays, creating a zone of lawlessness, without any legislation on the organization of work "added the daily Annie Thebaud-Mony, director of research at Inserm.

Decreased alertness

While these periods of outages, which usually last from one to three months, is already reflected by an increased pace of work ranging from simple to double, with penalty of night and weekend , employees are concerned about the consequences of such change on their health and efficiency."We do work twelve hours or more is absurd, evidenced by a technical framework of the Chinon power plant. Beyond a certain limit, we can no longer be vigilant to 100% payday loans. " "I do my work carefully so as not to endanger the operation of the site. But it is already to the detriment of my health. Nationally, it is impossible to continue at this pace without consequence, "said another engineer of the Central Blayais in the Gironde.

For its part, EDF denies wanting to increase the working hours of employees. "This is a misunderstanding. [...] It will never matter to executives working 78 hours per week. This is contrary to the values ​​of a responsible nuclear operator, has defended Bernard Lassus, director of human resources group in the columns of Le Parisien – Aujourd'hui en France.This ensures that the meetings with the general direction of work aimed instead to "clarify the organization of work", so as to "allow executives to take their daily rest period of 11 hours."

A technician Areva denounces inadequate security at the Hague

A retired technician from the treatment plant of La Hague nuclear waste warned Wednesday against the "inadequate security" site, which is home to one of the largest volumes of radioactive material in the world. Heard by the Local Information (CLI) of the site, he defended the idea that Areva is expected to build a "cathedral of concrete" against possible projectiles, when the site is currently protected by a "simple metal siding. For if a projectile reaches the pools, which contain the equivalent release of 100 reactors, "it would be worse than Fukushima," he said.For its part, Areva believes that site security is already assured by the existence of contingency plans in case of overflight of the plant.

Jun 10




Measures deemed insufficient. Farmers are almost unanimous in the result of measures announced by the Head of State yesterday in the Charente, including the provision of advances on compensation, exemptions from social contributions and deferred debt.

The President of the Republic "leaves farmers in their thirst," said a statement from Rural Coordination. "The agonizing question of farmers, as how to buy the additional food needed to feed a proper straw-based (for livestock), does not seem to touch the mind of Nicolas Sarkozy," regrets the union. Rural Coordination also reiterated his request for "make available the farmers two million tonnes of cereals in 2011 is intended to produce biofuel."

Another minority union, the Confederation Paysanne, made the same request, and indicates in its brief statement that the announcements made by the president are "insufficient". The union is also seeking the postponement of one year of all maturities of borrowings (2011 paid in 2012 and 2012 paid in 2013) and "zero-interest loans offered by all banks to farmers to aid payments Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) October 15, 2011.

FNSEA satisfied, but relativized

FNSEA, the main farmers' union, is the only one to be satisfied with the measures announced by Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday, saying that the Head of State "became aware of the situation" of farmers and its urgency. Its president, Xavier Beulin, welcomed the "emergency response" proposed.He also welcomed the establishment of a five-year plan to create water reservoirs and reduced volumes of water used by agriculture.

However, the president of the FNSEA expects the figures for the consequences of drought, which should be known in early September. He estimates it will then probably look at more structural measures, and direct payments to certain farms.

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Jun 9




Gloomy atmosphere at the Paris Bourse. On Wednesday, the benchmark index in Paris ended sharply down 0.88% to 3837.98 points. Either in the 3850 points, a significant technical threshold, which has not happened since March 18 last. Even bad mood: the London Stock Exchange was down 0.95% at 5808.89 points while in Frankfurt the Dax loose 0.61% to 7060.23 points.

On Tuesday, the benchmark index beyond the Paris Bourse had managed to achieve a small rebound. But since the Fed has made comments that disturb operators, already worried by the weak U.S. economy. In a televised speech in Atlanta, its chairman Ben Bernanke said that economic growth across the Atlantic remained "desperately slow" and that it required the maintenance of a "monetary policy complacency."He said that "growth should recover somewhat in the second half, but remain generally moderate. Delivered just before the close of U.S. markets, the speech was the turning Wall Street into the red. And this morning, Asian stock markets also reacted negatively.

Furthermore, growth of the emerging world should rise from 7.3% in 2010 "to about 6.3% annually from 2011-2013," considers the Bank's global economic forecast published in Washington.

French record trade deficit

In this gloomy atmosphere, the markets will monitor several indicators, mainly European.

– In France, the trade deficit set a record high in April to 7.14 billion euros, against 5.91 billion in March, seasonally adjusted data, the Customs said Wednesday.Moreover, the deficit of state budget stood at 61.4 billion euros in late April against 56.2 billion a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday by the Budget Ministry.

– In Germany, exports fell 5.5% in April on a month and imports by 2.5% over the same period, according to preliminary data adjusted for seasonal and calendar published Wednesday by the Federal Statistics Office . Other bad news, industrial production in Germany fell 0.6% in April on a month, its first decline since December, after rising 1.2% in March, said Wednesday the Department of Economics.

– Economic growth of countries in the euro area was well brought up to 0.8% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, Eurostat said.In one year, growth was also confirmed at 2.5%.

– U.S. stocks of crude oil dropped ten times more than expected last week in the U.S., but gasoline inventories rose sharply, according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy. Then 20 hours, the Fed will deliver the findings of its Beige Book.

Side currency, the euro lost ground against the dollar Wednesday after being around $ 1.47 the day before. To 17 hours in Paris, the single European currency traded at 1.4575 dollars against 1.4688 dollars late Tuesday. Oil prices were, themselves, without direction in electronic trading in Asia in anticipation of an OPEC meeting in Vienna in the day that might decide to increase production.A barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery took 7 cents 99.16 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery same retreated 48 cents to 116.30 dollars.

Banks still abused

No value of the CAC 40 is in the green at closing. On the SBF 120, Groupe Eurotunnel rises of 0.88%. The operator of the Channel Tunnel has won the tender launched by the great seaport of Bordeaux to determine the particular conditions of access to the network of railways, said on Tuesday a statement from the group.Saft rises of 0.80%, HSBC rose to overweight on the title.

Back on the Cac 40, Alcatel-Lucent shows the largest decrease: -3.26% to 3.65 euros.

Sanofi Aventis, valued for his defensive forward timidly from 0.17% to 52.33 euros.

Banks are generally downward: Natixis (-2.07% to 3.50 euros), Societe Generale (-1.39% to 39.79 euros) and BNP Paribas (-0.82% to 52.21 euros ) undergo further profit taking.

PPR: -1.67% to 115.15 euros

The group announced it is extending its takeover offer for the American Volcom until June 16

Hermes: +0.08% to 187.80 euros, LVMH: -1.11% to 116.30 euros

The group returns to its highest in October 2010 and outperformed the other lasting values ​​of luxury in favor of speculation about a takeover at the end of the saddle by LVMH, which already owns more than 20% of a group supported by sustained growth .

Schneider Electric: -1.34% to 110.70 euros

The authority of U.S. markets, the SEC filed a complaint for insider trading around the offer of French Schneider Electric on the Spanish Telvent. According to a warning issued Tuesday on the website of the SEC, this crime would have allowed the authors to make a profit of about $ 475,000 in total through the sale of option contracts Telvent acquired before the announcement of massive Schneider's offer.

Renault: -2.20% to 36.72 euros

The decision of the Court of Appeal of Versailles on the possible recognition as an occupational accident suicide in February 2007, Raymond D, employee Technocentre Renault in Guyancourt (Yvelines), is expected Thursday.The suicide of Raymond D was the third employee of the Technocentre in the space of four months between late 2006 and early 2007.

Belvedere: stable at 61.48 euros

After the decision of the Court of Appeal of Dijon, on Tuesday to confirm the cancellation of the safeguard procedure, the band announced that it "remains open to an agreement with its main creditors in the run to finish with a conflict that has lasted too long. "

BioAlliance: + 1.78% to 6.30 euros

The group wants to create a commercial structure for selling online in Europe's orphan drugs in oncology while pursuing its strategy of licensing agreements for its specialty products.

NYSE Euronext: -0.54% to 24.06 euros

NYSE and Deutsche Börse have announced a special dividend of 2 euros per share for shareholders of the combined group

GDF Suez: -0.49% to 24.43 euros

Group CEO, Gerard Mestrallet, warned Tuesday against Montreal seduction exerted excessive public opinion renewables, noting in particular the high cost of wind power."These are intermittent energy sources that will require large reserve capacity, which will be based on natural gas because of the ease of use of gas turbines," he told the International Economic Forum of the Americas.

Total: -0.20% to 38.21 euros

The U.S. manufacturer SunPower solar panels, partial target of a takeover of French Total, raised its forecast Tuesday quarterly revenue but warned that its margins could suffer from falling prices.

Next recommendation, after Exane BNP Paris yesterday, Credit Suisse rose to "outperform" on the title Michelin (-0.14% to 63.70 euros).

Please note that Air France-KLM will unveil its traffic in May after-hours trading. Valeo and Sopra hold their general meetings and Gifi publish the results of its second quarter after market close.

Jun 7




Most renewed the attack on the RSA. On the eve of the opening of the convention on the theme of social justice organized by the presidential party tomorrow, Wednesday, June 8, Jean-Francois Cope, secretary general of the UMP, exhibited in an interview with the daily La Voix du North's proposals for certain recipients of income solidarité active (RSA) work "between five and ten hours per week serving the community of residence." In Le Parisien, Aujourd'hui en France, his deputy, Marc-Philippe Daubresse, which promotes these same proposals.

"About a third of the 1.15 million households that receive the old RMI are not able to work without heavy social support. But for the others we'll be offered a social utility paid five to ten hours per week, in communities or integration structures, "he says.In case of refusal, "the RSA may be reduced on a declining basis," said deputy general secretary.

Keeping the philosophy of law Hirsch

"Laurent Wauquiez has asked good questions," says he with reference to the controversy raised in mid-May by the Minister of European Affairs on the "excesses of the assistantship. Marc-Philippe Daubresse former Minister of Solidarity nevertheless believes that active-Laurent Wauquiez who wanted to impose hours of social service, did not provide "necessarily the right answers for those who know the complex workings of the RSA low interest personal loan.

He said the crisis has eased the innovative principle of active solidarity revenue, created to allow anyone who works to earn more than doing nothing, and he wants to add a second component.This new proposal he said the answers "to questions by Laurent Wauquiez, while keeping the philosophy of law Hirsch.

Create one-stop shops

Marc-Philippe Daubresse also wants to create one-stop and check that one department to another, that households whose situation is similar enjoy the same rights. The monthly business-RSA today paid quarterly, is also considered.In order to track social security fraud, the UMP also wants to implement a automatic reporting of income by Urssaf the family allowance funds.

These proposals were laborées at the request of President Chirac who, while saying that RSA is "a major social advance of this five-year", said it was perfect.

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Jun 4




Once is not custom, the Cac 40 owes its salvation to Greece. While preparing to end the week on a third consecutive decline, after the publication of unemployment figures very disappointing for the month of May that highlight the fragility of the recovery in U.S. stock index has closed unchanged at 3890.68 points.

The Footsie-100 from the London Stock Exchange closed up 0.12% to 5855.01 points. The Dax-30 from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange finished up 0.49% at 7109.03 points.

A wave of optimism has swept over the financial markets in the late afternoon after Greece and the "troika" has released details of an upcoming fiscal tightening.And especially that the country has reached agreement with its creditors to pay him a new financial assistance.

The service sector slows in Europe

In France, growth in services sector activity slowed slightly in May but remains close to the peak of nearly 11 years hit the previous month, final results showed on Friday of the monthly survey from the Markit Purchasing Managers . PMI Segment income $ 62.5 after hitting 62.9 in April, its highest level since September 2000. An initial flash estimate of 62.8 gave the May 23

This same index slowed sharply in Germany last month to 56.1, its lowest level since October against a flash estimate of 54.9 and a figure of 56.8 in April.However, it is accelerating in the U.S., the index of purchasing managers in the sector has emerged up from from April to 54.6.

Also overseas, only 54,000 net jobs were created in May, according to figures from the Labor Department. That is three times less than economists' forecasts.

As for currencies, the euro, which climbed to over $ 1.45 yesterday, continues its recovery. It traded at 1.4567 dollars this morning.

Oil prices fell Friday in New York after the release of employment figures far worse than expected in the United States, showing a sharp slowdown in hiring in May in the country no faxing payday loan.

Late afternoon in Paris, on the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery traded at 99.46 dollars, down 0.94% compared to the day before.

Banks in good shape

The banking sector shows the largest gains among CAC 40 after Greece and the "Troika" (European Union, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank) unveiled the budget plan for Greece and Athens has confirmed that Agreement was reached with its creditors to pay him a new financial assistance. BNP Paribas (2.18% to 53.55 euros), Societe Generale (1.95% to 40.98 euros), Credit Agricole (2.17% to 10.58 euros) move.

TF1: +0.40% at 12.48 euros

Media rights to Roland Garros on Europe, formerly held by Eurosport (TF1), will change the diffuser to be allocated to the agency MP & Silva from 2012.

Vivendi: 0.63% to 19.07 euros

SFR announce next week an overhaul of its mobile offerings and partnership with the broadcast site Spotify music on the internet, writes La Tribune. The telecom operator will hold a press conference Tuesday, June 7

Thales: 1.16% to 29.28 euros, Safran: 0.59% to 27.94 euros

Discussions between the two groups regarding an exchange of assets will be using a mediator, Aldo Cardoso, former head of Andersen's consulting firm, said Friday the newspaper Les Echos.

Renault: 0.70% to 38.16 euros

The manufacturer believes that the shortage of diesel that has weighed on its registrations in the month of May in France will be eliminated in the second half, especially against the backdrop of the expected slowdown of the market, told The Tribune on Commerce Director of the French subsidiary.

Note that his main competitor, Peugeot, the fastest rising Cac 40 and the closure of the Paris stock exchange, rising 2.19% to 28.20 euros.

Jun 3




Who would have thought the always cautious Jean-Claude Trichet capable of launching such a stir in Europe? Five months after the end of his term as European Central Bank (ECB), the Governor, who found himself back on Thursday a prestigious award in Germany for the title of his contribution to European unification ", took the opportunity to deliver a will in the form of scathing: "Would it be too bold an economic standpoint, a single market, single currency and a single central bank, to consider a finance minister of the Union?" A proposal which requires no more or less, to revise the European Treaties … This hypothetical finance minister, seen by Jean-Claude Trichet, should ensure that each Member State's compliance with fiscal rules and competitiveness criteria dictated by Europe . And if this is not the case, it would have means of intervention.In short, what elicit strong reactions from Member States, always jealous of their sovereignty. However, the governor insists that wiped the plaster of the single currency, "interdependence means that countries do not have full internal facto authority. They may experience crises caused entirely by the adverse economic policies pursued by others. " Clearly, the worst loss of sovereignty is not accountable to a European authority, but to see its economy to its knees because of the excesses of its neighbors, such as Portugal just made the bitter experience business card.

A veto

The Greek debacle – Jean-Claude Trichet was careful not to comment directly – is at the heart of his argument. How to avoid crises in the euro area? With more monitoring. But also how to manage them when they erupt? Much more proactive."In the current scheme, all decisions remain in the hands of the country concerned", said the central banker, hoping to capitalize on annoyance with the efforts judged inadequate in Athens.

In the future, he advocated a policy in two steps to help struggling countries. "At first, it is justified to offer financial assistance in the context of a strong adjustment program. It is appropriate to give countries the opportunity to redress the balance for themselves and restore stability. "But if that does not work, the Governor argues for a direct influence of Frankfurt and Brussels."One might imagine that the European authorities have a right to veto certain decisions of economic policies." Of the major tax expenditures, for example. In short, if in Aachen, Jean-Claude Trichet cited bulk Erasmus, Victor Hugo and Kant, it was the accent of Martin Luther King that animated: after eight years at the ECB, the Europhile could have concluded " I have a dream "…

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Jun 1




The dominant expectations Wall Street on Wednesday. The Dow Jones lost 0.35% to 12,525.82 points, the Nasdaq yield 0.20% to 2829.60 points and the S & P 500 was down 0.29% to 1341.32 points.

Tuesday, as all global markets, the U.S. stock market had closed on a sharp rise, the Dow Jones climbed 1.03% and the Nasdaq by 1.37%. Investors, who were returning from a long weekend, had welcomed with relief the press releases stating that Germany would give up a debt restructuring of Greece.

On Wednesday, the new no longer effect. As in Europe and Asia, caution is back on the market, supported by a series of disappointing indicators from China and the euro area. China's PMI purchasing managers of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) fell to 52 last month, against 52.9 in April.In the euro area, this indicator stood at 54.6 in May, after a flash estimate of 54.8, against 58 in April. Is the lowest since October.

United States, the employment figures in the private sector show an increase of only 38,000 in May, according to the firm ADP, while analysts were betting on 170,000 net hires.

Investors across the Atlantic will also learn construction costs.

Side currency, the euro rose slightly against the U.S. dollar at 1.4421 dollars (+0.18%) in the early afternoon in Paris.For its part, oil recedes, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery yielding 0.53% to 102.16 dollars short term personal loans.

Yahoo!: -1.39% to 16.32 dollars

Yahoo has resolved its dispute with Alibaba Group in connection with the transfer by the Chinese company's online payment system, Alipay, its chief executive Jack Ma said on source familiar with the matter. The two companies reached an agreement before the meeting with analysts from Yahoo last Wednesday. But the agreement requires the green light from the founder of Softbank, Masayoshi Son, who sits on the board of directors of Alibaba. He was quite reluctant, says one. Japanese Softbank is a shareholder of Alibaba and Yahoo Japan.

Google: 0.46% to 531.44 dollars

Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman and former CEO of Google, said Tuesday night had "planted" on social networks four years ago.He takes the responsibility for the error that allowed Facebook to be the undisputed leader in the category.

Phillips-Van Heusen: 1.39% to 66.89 dollars

Phillips-Van Heusen for its part, announced a net profit of $ 58 million (79 cents per share) in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, against $ 28 million loss (53 cents per share) a year before. The turnover was doubled to 1.37 billion against $ 619 million a year earlier. The group is therefore the goal of annual earnings per share to range between 4.80 and $ 5 per title.

Dollar General: -8.58% to 32.06 dollars

Still on publications, Dollar General will issue its first quarter revenues.

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