Sep 17




Constellium officials selected by employees angry at the site of Ham (Somme), where the group wants to remove aluminum processing positions 127 to 200, escaped in the night from Friday to Saturday, it was learned union source.

Leaders, sequestered since Friday morning, "ran away", taking advantage of a "diversion" at the time of the visit of an officer of the gendarmerie about 2 o'clock in the morning to rush into an opening cut in a grid Site of manufacture of aluminum profiles, told AFP Merel, CFTC trade union representative (majority).

Among them was the president of this event for the world Constellium, Paul Warton, the director for France, Hervé Pelcerf and two leaders of the site of Ham. A fifth person, human resources manager of the site originally chosen, was released in the meantime by the employees, saidMerelle.

"Employees are disgusted by the attitude of management"

"A police commander came to see us, it was a meeting, and during that time, on the other side of the factory, they made an operation by cutting the fence and access to Brush the path payday loans. They were out there, the union said. Employees are disgusted by the attitude of management, "he said.

"There is no dialogue.We received no concrete progress "while the unions are demanding the continuation of the site and support a project of re-industrialization of the site, which received the value of an investment fund, but was rejected by Constellium, has he lamented.

Employees of the site of Ham, threatened by a social plan announced in February eliminating 127 jobs due to the shutdown of one of the two presses aluminum site, had enjoyed a visit Friday morning to Paul Warton the challenge of the future of their factory.

After a stormy meeting, the employees had left the factory had closed the gates with padlocks, locking the five officers who were at that time in the office.

Friday night, an attempt to mediate the sub-prefect had failed, the employees felt that the management proposal, namely to meet for negotiations Monday in a hotel about thirty miles away, was merely dilatory.

Sep 16




The Paris Bourse finally returns to the threshold of 3000 points. On Thursday, the CAC 40 closed up on 3.27% to 3045.62 points. Other European markets follow the same path: Milan ended up 3.56%, 2.11% from London, Frankfurt and Madrid from 3.15% to 3.63%. Wall Street was also in the green fence at the time in Europe.

Investors seem reassured by the willingness of European leaders to develop concrete actions to leave the eurozone its difficulties. Among them is the establishment of an agreement in principle to toughen the Stability Pact and fiscal discipline common in the EU, which provides for sanctions for countries that would leave too lax spinning their deficits. Another reassuring element: the willingness of German and French leaders to avoid an out of Greece in the euro area and the Greek government's determination to break the budget impasse.

Brazil and Russia have also said they were considering a support action. While international solidarity is organized to support Europe, Christine Lagarde since Washington recalled the need for world leaders to "common front" to avoid falling into a global recession will spare "person business card."

These statements on the euro area, combined with bargain hunting, did overshadow the release of mixed U.S. indicators (including the employment front) and European (growth on less-than-expected expected in the second half).

Side values, the banking sector was further illustrated by a sharp rise. Operators have particularly appreciated the decision taken by the central banks of the richest countries to take concerted action to expand the supply of banks in dollars.BNP Paribas is the largest increase in the ACC (13.38% to 30.50 euros). It is followed by Natixis (7.12% to 2.49 euros), Axa (6.49% to 9.89 euros), Credit Agricole (5.89% to 5.52 euros) and Societe Generale ( 5.44% to 18.33 euros). The area was not affected by the announcement of the massive fraud that hit UBS.

Another day value, LVMH, which climbed 3.44% to 115.65 euros after announcing choosing Jordi Constans, come to Danone, to succeed Yves Carcelle at the head of Louis Vuitton in 2013.

ALSO READ:

"The Council welcomes the intervention of central banks

"SPECIAL – crisis: the fear of debt

Sep 12




The health of European banks worried. So much so that the question of nationalization resurfaces. The possible bankruptcy of Greece and the contagion to Spain and Italy that would result are panicking investors who continue to attack for several days bank stocks. Since the beginning of the year, BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale have lost between a "large" third and 60% of their stock value. On the first day of September, the losses of the three titles are respectively 17.45%, 22.33% and 27.69%.

The fault, among other things an IMF report indicating a need for 200 billion euros for all European institutions. And, two days after the executive director of the institution, Christine Lagarde, has said that banks needed an "urgent recapitalization."Statements that had caused an outcry among European officials. On the sidelines of G8 was held in Marseille on Saturday, the former Minister of Economy and Finance held to explain the 200 billion euros. "This figure was included in a draft document and did not reflect the final estimate of the IMF, she said. This is not a stress test conducted by the IMF. " He added: "This is not the overall need for capital for European banks." As acknowledged by the President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet earlier this month.

The dissenting voice of the German finance minister

But Christine Lagarde acknowledged that differences still exist between the IMF and ECB experts on the methodology to achieve the quantification of the capital requirements of banks.The final decision of the IMF should be in the final report, whose publication is expected by the end of September. The difference analysis between the IMF and the Europeans based in part on how to account for the value of government bonds of countries at risk in banks' balance sheets. The Anglo-Saxons are in favor of the idea of ​​using their market value, while the Europeans prefer to use internal models are less sensitive to changes in short-term securities.

Meeting in Marseille on Friday and Saturday, finance ministers from the euro zone wanted reassurance on the European banking system, swearing that he will not go bankrupt. All? Not a voice was more concerned desired. That of the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, who would, according to Spiegel, already developed a plan to prevent the bankruptcy of Greece.

Sep 6




Deezer has won a round in the standoff between the site of listening to music online in the first world producer of music, Universal Music. For several months, Deezer available on their website from the stable of artists Universal, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, … Rihanna – without renewing his contract with the record company. The reason? Anxious to push users to pay for music, Universal Music wants to listen to a repeat title is limited to five, beyond what digital music lovers will have to pay. Stress too important to Deezer, which peaked in June, listening to music on the overall site to five hours per month.

Failing agreement, Universal Music France has turned to justice. For the subsidiary of Vivendi, Deezer is guilty of infringement. On Monday, the judge of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris has decided otherwise and dismissed Universal.For justice, Deezer has "sufficiently established in the interim stage the possibility that the company Universal Music France has committed an abuse of dominant position which has the effect of depriving the bans based on the copyright it claims ". Thus, the court allows Deezer, which Orange is a shareholder at 11%, to continue to operate free catalog of Staff … "In conditions that were not accepted by Universal," Vivendi's subsidiary storm, with Deezer attack now on the bottom.

Find a deal

"This decision clearly express the idea that we have several models on the French market for it to grow, said Axel Dauchez his part, Director General of Deezer. Furthermore, it can not be any different solutions for each producer. "Satisfied with the decision of the court, he readily admits that the Universal catalog is "essential to the existence of Deezer" and he'll have to reach an agreement. A fortiori Deezer while preparing its international expansion. In 2012, France could be less than half the income of the start-up. It opened an office in England and is expected to announce the launch of its service in the coming days. The French experience is not foreign. In addition to tickets sold in packages Orange (1.1 million), claiming in effect Deezer 100,000 subscriptions sold directly from that listening is limited to 5 hours per month. "With success, it is logical that we seek to replicate it abroad," said Axel Dauchez.

ALSO READ:

"Deezer waives and unlimited free music

"Deezer is the one million paying subscribers

Aug 30




The day after a session sharply higher on Wall Street and in Asia, the Paris market continues to rebound sharply on Tuesday after rising 2.2% Monday. At the opening, the benchmark index of the Bourse de Paris wins 1.22%, to 3192, 69 points. Yesterday on Wall Street indices ended the session up 2.2% for the Dow and the Nasdaq 3.3% driven by the consumption figures in the United States.

Asian markets followed suit with their American counterparts. In Tokyo, the Nikkei was up 1.22% to 8959.75 points while unemployment is again on the rise for the second consecutive month in July and that retail sales fell by 0.3% from June

The correct orientation of financial markets has boosted oil prices.Thus, the Asian markets, the Nymex is trading at 87.49 dollars, he finished in 87.27 dollars in New York, up $ 1.90 from Friday. Brent crude traded him to 112.17 dollars.

On the currency front, the euro continues to rise slightly against the greenback, moving always on top bar $ 1.45. At about 8 am in Paris, the European currency was worth 1.4528 dollars against 1.4510 dollars late Monday.

Fears about the health of banks

The day before, call to order by Christine Lagarde bound for European banks has prompted European leaders to defend the institutions of the old continent. "European banks are much better capitalized today than they were a year ago. This was confirmed by stress tests conducted in July, "assured the Commissioner of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn.

But on Tuesday, it was the turn of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) to throw fuel on the fire. The IASB believes that the provisions made by banks and European insurers about their exposure to Greek debt have been dumped, reports the Financial Times. According to the newspaper, BNP Paribas and CNP Assurances are particularly concerned by this risk. This does not prevent the two values ​​rose by 2.86% and 0.20%, to 35.38 euros and 12.35 euros.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also generally lowered its economic growth forecasts for 2011 and 2012, leaving unchanged the forecast of Germany for the current year no checking account payday advance.

Still on macroeconomic indicators will be out today.Before trading, the markets did not take umbrage at the publication of a fall, but strong early sales of new homes in the second quarter in France. Are expected, however carefully in mid-day details of business failures, the business climate and economic sentiment in the eurozone. Overseas, the index of consumer confidence, the housing (Case-Shiller) and the minutes of the last Fed meeting will also facilitate the session.

Arcelor-Mittal is growing in Australia

On the corporate side, Arcelor-Mittal (1.60% to 14.58 euros) is about to take control of Australia's Macarthur, world's largest producer of pulverized coal, in association with the American Peabody Energy . The tender offer made by the European steel amounts to 5.16 billion dollars.Macarthur's management finally yielded to the new offer revised upwards by the Arcelor-Peobody tandem: it is 16 Australian dollars (11.8 euros) per share, against A $ 15.50 earlier.

The semi-annual publications are now many, especially among heavyweights rating. Note that the Y real, Havas, Bouygues, Colas, Vinci, Bollore, NRJ Group and Devoteam detail their half-year after the market closes.

In addition, Ipsen (6.12% to 23.50 euros) announced revenues up 5.3% in the first half.He also announced an upward adjustment of its sales forecast for 2011 in favor of a less pronounced decline than expected sales in general practice.

The French shipowner CMA-CGM said that 2011 should be "a good year" for the group, claiming to have already funded the bulk of its investments for 2011 and 2012. The company said to have $ 1.7 billion (1.17 billion euros) in cash at the end of June, July and have paid $ 550 million bond line, while press reports evoked ago few weeks of possible cash flow problems.

ALSO READ:

"The Cac 40 erases its losses the last two sessions

"Wall Street continues its rebound

Aug 23




The U.S. stock markets may well wake up so brutally that they fell asleep. Shortly before their opening on Tuesday, the markets were indeed approached up slightly after the day gleaned 0.34% for the Dow and 0.15% for the Nasdaq. The index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 rose by 1.66% to 1141.90 points and 2076.50 points to 1.50%. The Dow Jones was waiting for his part in an initial advance of 1.41% to 11,000 points.

New home sales for the month of July in the United States are known to 16 hours. They are expected at 310,000 according to a consensus of analysts against 312,000 previously. This will be the only macroeconomic indicator on the agenda Tuesday.If others will be announced in the coming days, investor caution, but market volatility, however, should remain in force throughout the week until Friday.

That day, in fact, speak the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke. Speculation is rife, some still hoping that it will decide a third monetary easing to support the U.S. economy. Will also be unveiled for the second estimate of U.S. GDP for the second quarter.

Banks and investment funds turbulent agitated

As for values, it will be interesting to see if the securities of the banking sector managed to recover. The meeting this Monday night has been very rough in New York, the indices have again been a roller coaster free 3-in-1 credit report.If technology stocks have bounced back, supported by investors looking for bargains, banks have suffered greatly, however. These are the titles of the financial sector that weighed most heavily on the DJIA. Bank of America has yielded 7.9% on rumors of capital increases.

News is expanded on the side of investment funds. The investment fund Cerberus and its partner Chatham Lodging Trust and have informed the United States real estate company Innkeepers Trust (Marriott franchise) they did not buy the walls of 64 of its hotels in the United States. The transaction, amounting to $ 1.1 billion, was announced in May.

The investment fund Jana Partners in New York and the pension fund Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, shareholders of the publisher McGraw-Hill, for their part, state recommend a separation of the group.The two investors, who had announced in early August have acquired a total of 5.2% of the capital, advocated in a paper presented to the authority of the U.S. equity markets (SEC) that the group split its divisions Education, Information and Media and stock index Standard & Poor's.

Finally, on the front of mergers over the world stock markets, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) approved on Tuesday the merger of NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Börse, which should give birth to the first exchange operator world.

Aug 22




Shortly before opening, the U.S. stock markets were slightly higher initial approached on Monday. The index futures Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq 100 advanced in effect 0.79% respectively at 1132.40 points from 0.98% to 2061 points, while the Dow Jones was also expected to rise by 0.6 % to 10,885 points.

The slight rebound, which may occur after a further sharp fall on Wall Street last Friday and in the wake of European markets focused more on Monday morning, should not be thwarted, at least in the short term, by some macroeconomic indicators whatsoever. In fact, no statistics major is expected on Monday to the United States. Only the index of manufacturing activity in the Chicago Fed is on the menu, at 14:30.

It will take until Tuesday to learn about sales figures for new homes, from 16 hours.Wednesday, the agenda will grow a bit, with durable goods orders for July and the weekly inventory of crude oil to the United States. Thursday, things become more serious with the weekly jobless claims, always eagerly awaited by investors on the lookout for any sign of weakness, or, conversely, improvement in U.S. growth.

Threats to U.S. growth

But the appointment will most certainly expected the intervention, Friday, Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve (Fed), some investors are hoping a third easing able to restart the engine stopped the world's largest economy.This day will be both detailed, the second estimate of U.S. gross domestic product for the second quarter, and the index of consumer confidence for August.

Markets, even if they are experiencing very high volatility, and may still show, at the same time, some caution, pending the decision of the Fed on Friday. Especially as the threats to the outlook for U.S. growth accumulates. After Morgan Stanley and Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase lowered its estimates, in turn, growth in the U.S. economy. The Bank of New York discusses risk "clearly raised" a recession, while growth prospects for the third quarter were for their slightly smaller than before.The U.S. GDP growth for the fourth calendar quarter is now expected at a rate of 1% against +2.5% previously.

Vice President Joe Biden, on an official visit to China, but probably a little appeased the spirits, reaffirming this weekend at the first creditors of the country they could rely on the strength of the U.S. Treasury.

Values ​​to follow

The uncertainty is compounded room at the international level, by the events in Libya. The fall of Colonel Qaddafi, found, became clearer Monday morning, prompting oil companies to return to the values ​​of the colors. However, perhaps more in Europe than the United States. Neither Chevron (%), or ExxonMobil (+%) are actually active in the extraction of oil in Libya. These values ​​could still respond to changes in oil prices.Oil prices retreated on Monday morning.

On the corporate side, the internet telephony group Skype also announced Sunday an agreement to acquire Me Group, a provider of mobile messaging services to targeted groups. Registered in Luxembourg, the company Skype was founded in 2003 and became the world leader in Internet telephony. She is currently being acquired by Microsoft U.S. computer group (-2.51% Friday closing).

Aug 20




How do you explain the economic slowdown in recent months and the downward revisions to growth prospects?

More than a brake unexpectedly in the economy, we see a reversal of perception. The latter is even more brutal than the general opinion was, in my view, tainted with excessive optimism. Then it is difficult to know what, the political farce about debt in Washington, the loss of the AAA American or poor statistics justified the change of outlook on the economy.

The publication of poor growth in the second quarter in the U.S. and the downward revision of the statistics of activity since 2008, have changed the vision of recovery.We start from lower than initial estimates, and we go up the slope much more slowly than expected.

We also witnessed a particularly brutal realization that the inflationary between autumn 2010 and spring 2011 was a major blow to the head of consumers. With a depressed job market and debt strategy, it was not much more to demand falters significantly.

Do you believe in a scenario back in recession?

The situation is much more fragile than earlier this year. The risk of a recession back to a horizon of six months has increased considerably paydayloans. In my view, two scenarios-slow growth or recession-are as likely to occur. The first scenario would lead to growth of only 2% in the U.S. and 1% in Europe, below the trend in previous upturns.The fault mainly mass unemployment. As for the recession, it could happen if everyone is convinced it is inevitable. Given the current environment, the market may in fact remain in panic mode, accumulating indiscriminate bad news one after the other.

Some economists raise the specter of the 2008 crisis …

In response to the bankruptcy of Lehmann, banks no longer wanted to lend to each other, freezing, and the global economy for six months. We're not there. Of course, we see signs of stress in the interbank market, but they have nothing to do with the situation three years ago. At the time, the Fed has provided up to $ 600 billion to other central banks to provide liquidity in dollars. Currently, the hotline is used up to 200 million.

In a recession, states will they try to revive the economy?

Western countries have largely emptied their cartridge: operating margins are much narrower. Any potential action, if it increases the debt carries with it much more likely than before.

Aug 16




German growth disappoints economists. The country announced on Tuesday, an initial estimate, an increase of 0.1% of GDP in the second quarter against a 0.5% increase expected by observers. This is a lowest since the first quarter of 2009.

In one year, growth stood at 2.8%, a performance is still below the 3.2% forecast. The previous quarter, the German economy had grown 1.3% a quarter over quarter and 5% year on year. These figures themselves have been subject to a downward revision, having been originally announced respectively 1.5% and 5.2%.

This result is partly due to the disappointing performance of foreign trade, yet strength of the German economy. The trade surplus narrowed to 11.5 billion euros against 12.8 billion in May. Economists had forecast 13 billion.Imports were further advanced in June by 0.3% while economists were betting on a decline in the same order. Exports, they, down 1.2% over the same period after growing 4.4% in May

With orders up to industry

Industrial production also fell 1.1% in June, surprising economists who had expected an increase of 0.1%. The figure for May was also revised downward, the increase being reduced from 1.2% to 0.9%. The Ministry of Economy said that the month of June was characterized by an unusually high number of long weekend, which has affected production. He also noted that industrial production remained on a positive trend, driven by a high level of orders.

These have in fact increased by 1.8% in June, against a 0.5% decline expected.But the figures show a slowdown in domestic demand after rising by more than 10% in May, has dropped significantly in June (-10.8%), while orders from abroad have experienced an opposite trend with an increase of 13.7% in June after a 5.8% decline the previous month. Finally, wholesale sales fell 0.6% in July compared to June

"Private consumption and investment in construction slowed the German economy in the second quarter," said the Statistical Office, without giving details. Confident, the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble still hopes for 2011 "growth above 3%."

Aug 7




The penalty was expected but it still sounds like a shock. In the night from Friday to Saturday, the rating agency Standard and Poor's (S & P) has dared to lower the rating for government debt of the United States, and deprived of their "AAA" for the first time in history . S & P said in a statement it had degraded to the next level this note, the best possible, to bring it to 'AA +'. It also lowered its outlook to "negative", which means that Standard and Poor's believes that the next time the note will change, it will be to be devalued again. The United States were rated "AAA" by S & P since the creation of this agency in 1941.They remain in the other two major agencies, Moody's Dean (since 1917) and Fitch Ratings.

Standard and Poor's, which had warned in April that it was considering lowering, justified its decision with "political risks" to see the country taking insufficient measures against its budget deficit. For her, the political debate on these issues is not up to the problems caused by a debt of more than 14,500 billion. "The plan for balancing the budget on which Congress and the Executive have recently agreed is insufficient compared to what, in our view, would be needed to stabilize the dynamics in the medium term public debt" said S & P, citing the law known as "control the budget" passed Tuesday.

S & P is the second rating agency to downgrade the American note, after the Chinese – less powerful – Dagong.Other – mostly American and French Moody's Fitch – are currently at Triple A.

The U.S. public debt to more than 100% of GDP

The first power of the world is, well, so sure before. The United States and joined Japan, Spain and Ireland have lost that status envied no fax payday loan. The loss of this seal of excellence is expected brutal impact on the financial markets, difficult to imagine right now. But while the financial world is upside down, the risk that markets continue to dive is high. The announcement of S & P comes in effect when the markets were closed for the weekend, closing on both sides of the Atlantic one week black.

China, by far the world's largest creditor United States, found that she had "every right now to require the United States to address their structural problems of debt."Second World holder of U.S. debt, Tokyo assured him that his confidence in the U.S. Treasury and its strategy of purchasing these bonds were unchanged. In France, the Minister of Economy Baroin reiterated his "total confidence in the strength of the U.S. economy."

Two days ago, the U.S. debt has passed a symbolic milestone. Because it exceeded the threshold of 100% of GDP, just after raising the debt ceiling by Congress. The United States saw their public finances sealed by the harsh recession that crossed their economy from late 2007 to mid-2009. Since then, economic growth has returned, but they are not able to restore the health of their public finances. According to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, they should acknowledge this year, with about 9% of GDP, the highest budget deficit of the G20 countries, except Japan.It is sixteen countries rated "AAA" by Standard and Poor's, four of the G7: Germany, Canada, France and Great Britain.

(With AFP and Reuters)

ALSO READ:

"Why the threat of recession resurfaced

"The world as seen by the rating agencies

"The agency Fitch confirmed the triple-A U.S.

"The U.S. debt above 100% of GDP

« Previous Entries Next Entries »