Sundial of world news

The CAC 40 has struggled to define a trend on Friday. The meeting has been volatile, rising succeeding downward and vice versa. Halfway through, the ACC showed an increase of 0.54% to 3619.85 points after opening down 0.13% to 3595.66 points. Before switching to newcomer to build in the red to 16 hours under the 3600 points. Finally, ACC closed with a gain of 0.18% to 3607.05 points.

Elsewhere, the indices have evolved piecemeal. The London Stock Exchange, which opened down 0.37%, ended on a note steady at 5312.62 points. The DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, which had also started the session on a decline of 0.27%, finished with a gain of 0.39% to 6166.34 points.The Madrid Stock Exchange, where banks are under pressure as the newspaper El Pais said in its edition today, regaining ground with a rise of 1.07% against -0.54% in early trade.

The waiting game surrounding the publication of results of stress tests of European banks calls for caution investors. On the currency markets, the euro back a bit against the dollar, under $ 1.29.

Asian markets have them selected more strongly green this morning. Yesterday, U.S. markets have done a great meeting at which time the Dow has gained almost 2%, relatively insensitive to the announcement of a surprise increase in weekly unemployment registration.

Consumption of French decline

In terms of macroeconomic statistics, the session looks very calm.No major indicator is expected in the United States.

In France, the French household consumption of manufactured goods fell 1.4% in June after the previous month was supported by purchases of televisions before the World Cup, according to figures published by INSEE before the opening markets. Throughout the second quarter, it shows a decrease of 0.9% after falling 1.9% on the first three months of the year. Analysts on average expected a rise of 0.2% in June

INSEE also believes that the request to industry has increased significantly in the second quarter but is expected to decline in the third.The balance measures the views of industrialists on the past evolution of aggregate demand was 9 in the previous survey in April to 17 in July, and 4-14 for foreign demand.

In Germany, business climate has improved significantly more than expected in recent weeks. The Ifo index rose to 106.2 against 101.2 in June (revised from 101.1 in the initial estimate) last month. Economists and analysts had expected decline to 101.6.

TF1 jumped after its results

Stress tests, however, occupy the banking sector.BNP Paribas (-0.06%), Societe Generale (+0.08%), Credit Agricole (-1.11%) and Natixis (+0.10%) are unsure about what direction to take.

Moreover, the markets will again this session to analyze several quarterly publications:

TF1 (6.41% to 12.45 euros) announced before market advertising revenues up 11% in the first semester for a total turnover of 1.28 billion euros, above consensus. Net income group share was 74 million euros over the period. The objectives are significantly revised upward with a turnover in 2010 rose by 7% instead of 4%.

STMicroelectronics (-3.58% to 6.49 euros) reported Thursday a profit above expectations at 18 cents per share, with sales up 27% to $ 2.53 billion.Analysts on average expected a profit of 14 cents per share and a turnover of 2.513 billion dollars.

Pernod Ricard (-2.34% to 62.61 euros) a statement on Thursday its forecast annual operating profit thanks to the improved economic environment and its position in emerging markets.Its turnover in 2009-2010 emerged, up 2% on a comparable basis.

Ubisoft (-0.07% to 6.97 euros) issued a revenue increase of 94% in the first quarter of 2010-2011, to 161 million euros and confirmed its objective of a sales draft 160 million for the remainder of the year.

BioAlliance Pharma (0.91% to 5.53 euros) announced a record turnover of 15.2 million euros in the second quarter against 1.5 million a year earlier, after recording in April in U.S. Loramyc, headlight treatment of fungal infections in patients with oral cancer or AIDS.

As for ads, Alstom (3.73% to 38.55 euros) said it had won contracts valued at about 450 million euros for the construction of two units for a combined cycle power plant in India.

Air Liquide (1.15% to 87.78 euros) announced Friday the signing of a new contract with Russian steelmaker Severstal for investments worth 50 million euros in total.

Legrand (1.86% to 25.68 euros) Thursday announced a takeover offer for Indo Asian Switchgear India, where he produced nearly 4% of its annual turnover after the acquisition. Indo Asian Switchgea aims for 2010 sales of more than 35 million euros.

Maurel et Prom (0.53% to 9.45 euros) announced Thursday it had increased to approximately 70 million euros the amount of its issuance of convertible bonds to five years following the full exercise of the option overallotment.

One was 37, he is a mason, tiler. The other is 53 years old, it is mover. Gunseli and Michel worked in the Paris region. And both consider "poor" taking into account the hardship, as proposed by the government: the ability to stop working at age 60, provided they have been recognized inability to at least 20%. An advanced course, but also points to the pension reform the most debated by MPs, part of the majority joining the left to request a more broad.

"Now I have to retire at age 62. This is not fair. After 60 years, it is too difficult physically, gunseli regrets. In construction, it is hard all the time.But hey, there's nothing to do, the government chooses. "Considering that life expectancy is lower than" people who work in offices, gunseli legitimate judge to keep a starting retirement at age 60.

"Tired and decreased"

An argument that includes Michael. But the latter, well aware of the contents of the bill, is more nuanced. "We are always obliged to take examinations. The 20%, it will remain an exceptional measure for people who have major injuries, "he laments. The measure should be more flexible. Special schemes and benefit from generous, all we have to work longer. "But then he admits:" Even if you do the same job, it's normal that leave those who are injured early retirement."

Between trips to the doctor, prosthetics and rehabilitation, Michel, as gunseli, admits however, "tired and down." "Clearly I can not do the same work that 20 years!" Jokes the mover, who, despite a slight limp, does not meet the criterion of 20% disability.

And this is probably the real problem: lack of prevention and management of workstations, to avoid the burnout. "It does not exist in the world of work! You're there to produce "wryly Michel. Accustomed to carrying heavy loads and repetitive work and stressful, the fifties suffers from chronic back pain and a persistent knee pain."Every time I go see the doctor, it relieves me of the time, he says, but once you have an injury, no turning back is possible."

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Moody's has struck again. This time, the rating agency downgraded the credit rating assigned to the public debt of Ireland two notches to Aa2 from Aa1. The agency now shows a stable outlook, while they were negative before.

Moody's analysts explain this degradation by three factors. They rely on "the gradual loss and significant financial strength of the Irish government illustrated by rising deficits and the weakening of the country's repayment capacity." Growth prospects also weakened justify the gesture of the agency. The agency believes that the burden of debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to stabilize around 95% to 100% within two to three years. Finally, doubts about the soundness of the banking system, following numerous recapitalizations of businesses have also influenced Moody's.The agency has referred to the substantial liabilities arising from the establishment of the NAMA (National Asset Management), a defeasance bank (or bank rotten ") service, which has to buy the Irish banks Tens of billions of subprime loans that they had accumulated before the credit crisis.

A budget deficit higher than that of Greece

In 2009, the budget deficit of Ireland, 14.3% of GDP was highest in the euro area, even superior to that of Greece, suffered a severe debt crisis. The Irish public debt has soared from 25% of GDP at end 2007 to 65% in late 2009.

Moody's has recently made several other cuts of notes on debt.The sovereign rating of Portugal has been degraded to A1 AA2 cons last week because of growth prospects remain relatively low and a deteriorating financial situation. Following the degradation cascade, investors may be less attentive to agency decisions.

European banks want to permanently remove the specter of the collapse of the banking system. Alessandro Profumo, UniCredit's boss and one of the most influential leaders in the sector, has relaunched the idea of creating a fund to rescue banks. The idea is simple: banks unite to raise funds that can then be used by an institution in difficulty.

Alessandro Profumo said that using this solution "allows one or more banks in trouble to find a quick solution and avoids any systemic risk." Deutsche Bank and Santander would be convinced by the project.In an interview with the Financial Times, the Director General of the Italian bank in advance that such funds could raise 20 billion euros in a few years no fax cash advance.

Several projects to protect the financial system have already been mentioned. Recently, France, Great Britain and Germany have called for the establishment of a tax credit which funds used to finance the rescue of an institution. However, according to Alessandro Profumo, the creation of a fund from the private sector is able to raise more money.

And initiatives to avoid another crisis are numerous. The Basel Committee develops banking sector reforms to prevent a collapse in the event of another financial crisis.Regulators, who are implementing these measures by 2O12, want to focus on strengthening the capital requirements and capital, and limit debt.

The information, published Sunday in the Official Journal, surged as health minister, Roselyne Bachelot. The prices of three brands of cigarettes will fall by 20 cents from Monday. This Rothmans, Lucky Strike and packets of Drum rolling tobacco. The government has no way to prohibit it.

Reacting on RTL, the health minister, Roselyne Bachelot, said Sunday it would propose an increase in tobacco taxes to counter the move by the industry when considering the budget bill. The minister, who denounced a "blow to public health", said she was "absolutely shocked".

Recalling that tobacco was responsible for 60,000 deaths a year, more than half due to cancer of the airways, Roselyne Bachelot said she heard "get cigarettes at a price deterrent.""Do not our mobilization efforts on public health is undermined by the initiative of industry," commented the minister.

"A health scandal"

The public health associations have criticized the approach on their side of tobacco. According to Bertrand Dautzenberg, pulmonologist, president of the French Office for the Prevention of smoking, the decline in the price of tobacco is "a marketing offensive to attract new smokers, particularly youth and women."

"Variations on the price of tobacco, which are the only effective lever for reducing consumption, are now in the hands of industrialists," he laments."This is a health scandal since this will automatically translate into increased consumption," adds Yves Martinet, president of the National Committee against Smoking (NCTC), which campaigns for "a new tax policy."

There are currently 29% of daily smokers and occasional 5% among French people aged 18-75 years. According to the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), the daily smoking for 28% of girls and 30% of boys and 17 years.

"And all indicators are now red," according to Professor Albert Hirsch, vice president of the National League against Cancer.The latest results from the annual survey conducted by the association without tobacco Paris, in partnership with the rector of Paris and the Fund's primary health insurance, and have recently shown a tendency to relapse to smoking among adolescents Paris, while the latter had given up smoking massively in the wake of the cancer plan.

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Will it happen to food packaging, plastic chairs or bumper? The Federation of plastics, which brings together producers of plastic products, is sounding the alarm. "This is a situation unprecedented in the plastic. Our suppliers of polymers evoke technical reasons, cases of "force majeure" and do not honor their deliveries, "said Bruno Etienne, its president.

He complains of the total opacity surrounding the subject. In less than three months, the phenomenon has spread to most chemists. In a letter to his clients, a leading industry refers to "a situation of force majeure for a mechanical problem. A spokesman said "not able to comment in the present context," adding that the group has written to its customers and does not give more details.Rhodia did not wish either to speak on this subject, nor the Union of Basic Organic Chemistry (SCOBA). PlasticsEurope, an association of European producers of plastics, boot button: "The problem of availability of raw materials is not limited to plastics, but is much broader. Polypropylene is most affected. "

A response that plastics companies deny. "There is still some time, the European plants polymers suffered from overcapacity. They could even export to China. Does it change? "Asks Bruno Estienne. He wondered if a half-word part of European production is shipped to China, to the detriment of businesses he represents.The producers of polymers are in fact, in their majority, started in the construction of production units of polymers in Asia, but all are not yet operational. This theory has a flaw: the prices of plastics in China are structurally lower than those in Europe, where prices through May rose by an average of 70% over one year.

However, in 2009, production fell by 20% and has increased by 9% during the first four months of the year."Some factories were closed in 2009, and the groups are reluctant to reopen them," said Jean-Marc Manducher, CEO Ronax, a buying group that has identified eight cases of force majeure in a few months! In addition, the European prudential standards discourage the restart of some production units.

SMEs under pressure

"We are caught between the chemists in our principals," said Bruno Etienne, who wishes to hold a roundtable meeting to identify the difficulties currently crossed by the industry and evaluate the time needed to return to normal.

If the survival of businesses does not seem threatened, some are already struggling. One example for manufacturers of garden furniture, whose business is seasonal excellence, and whose unfilled orders will not be caught.T automobile sector is also likely to be affected, if manufacturers of technical parts (bumpers, interior trim parts in engines) are not promptly supplied.

The warning on the accounts Krief Group launched by the auditors of the company may be only the first phase of legal setbacks Louis Petiet. Official Bulletin, the alert procedure "very advanced", according to "Echoes" is a prevention of business difficulties. Petiet Louis, through its group Bernard Krief Consulting (BKC)-since renamed Krief Group-has multiplied over the past three years the buyout on the brink of liquidation. And since early 2010, he faced great difficulties.

This is the case of Heuliez, which he eventually sold the shares to an investor, Charles Mirchi. The automaker, which Petit Louis has never made the 16 million euro capital promised to bar the commercial court, awaiting a new buyer.Other companies are being liquidated, as the chain of stores in Soho gadgets, or industrial Isotherma, Havre.

In Alsace, the former two problems DMC: DMC SA (ex-DMC thread) on one side and the other DMC fabric. Two companies taken over by Louis Petiet. The liquidators DMC SA before the Tribunal de Commerce de Paris. Louis Petiet has still not made the 8 million euros promised in the takeover of the company. Authorised agents would like the company is recapitalized by the current minority shareholders who would become the majority. Such an operation would be catastrophic for BKC to lose control of one of its only really profitable companies.'Stocks of DMC SA alone represent a real source of income for two years, "a close case.

In addition, an unsuccessful candidate for the redemption of DMC, the French manufacturer of textiles SA Blanchard, also before the court. It calls for the cancellation of the recovery plan by BKC and wishes to represent his own recovery plan. The court decided to consolidate the two cases and the next hearing will be held September 8 No faxing payday loans.

Broken Promises

Second case, the DMC Fabric, whose activities have been grouped with a sign of furniture, Authentica, within SAIC Velcorex. Louis Petiet hoped "synergies". Today, the liquidator "examines the responsibilities of Louis Petiet, including how he managed DMC Fabric and Authentica," said a source close to the record."Cash Authentica (advances paid by customers) would, a priori, was used to cover losses Velcorex SAIC," said the legal representative, which states that "it did nothing illegal, since it is the same company. However, this does nothing to the rules commonly applied by a transferee company in difficulty, meant to work on his recovery.

"After regaining Authentica, Louis Petiet did nothing for the company, not even changed the vehicle registration cards," said the liquidator. Louis Petiet highlights purchases of raw materials it was made for Authentica.What is relatively little in terms of commitments.

The alert procedure

The Commercial Code provides that the auditors (ACC)-expected to certify the company's accounts, can alert the president of a company if they find "facts likely to affect the continuous operation. The president has fifteen days to respond. Otherwise, or if the reply does not guarantee the continuity of the operation, the ACC is deliberating the board of directors (or supervisory) on the facts found. If the resulting provisions are not met or that the company's survival is threatened, the ACC establishes a special report. The Commercial Court may be entered. This can lead to legal redress.

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In 2010, the power was going to be more lenient than in 2009. Last year at this time, the clouds were gathering over EDF, raising fears a dreaded scenario: power cuts. Not only Meteo-France was involved in the incumbent a "signal hot", ie a risk of drought, but especially nuclear fleet suffered from a long strike. In addition, there were maintenance delayed massive enough to cause a moment to stop one third of the 58 reactors. At the time, Prime Minister Francois Fillon, had also publicly worried about the situation.

The state park remains a major project

This time, the concern is not the same. Fifteen units are presently closed, a current threshold at this time.EDF enjoy summer to restore the park in preparation for the winter, much more greedy for power. By comparison, in January, peak consumption are regularly found around 90,000 megawatt hours (MWh), while in August, we do not exceed an average of 55,000 MWh.

"There is no risk of power failure for the portfolio company's customers," says Philip Torrioni Director optimization upstream-downstream and trading, while recalling that EDF has the "stacking of multiple means of production ': in addition to nuclear, hydro, fossil-fired (fuel oil and coal) or purchase obligations (cogeneration, wind …).

Note that EDF considers the situation of hydraulics "generally satisfactory", the streams and filling reservoirs for dams being at favorable levels."On this last point, we are even slightly in surplus," says Patrick Tourasse, in charge of coordination of water at EDF.

As for the effects of the strike last year, they are now digested, said Philippe Druelle, the delegate operational nuclear generation. This does not preclude occasional conflicts: Friday, the Inter Power Plant Flamanville announced the resumption of work after five days of strike any of its services after signing an agreement on creation of ten posts.

However, even if EDF is reassuring for the coming summer, the state park remains a major project for the company. In case the rate of availability of its stations, which dropped to 78% last year, far from that of other major utilities such as GDF Suez nuclear operator in Belgium. In the medium term, Henri Proglio, the chairman of EDF, is the bar of 85%.A major objective of financial terms because in terms of availability, each point less cost around 200 million euros to the company.

To remedy the situation the company began to invest heavily to replace large components of its plants. It also plans to optimize a number of operating procedures. With the desire to obtain tangible results from this year.

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Rating agencies have a great influence on economic policy Bercy. Baroin, the budget minister, has himself acknowledged Sunday. And what about Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch of the situation in France? Will they be inclined to leave him in the coming months, the privilege of his "Triple A, the highest mark possible, attributed to a very small country?

It depends, just, future government decisions. France has suffered less from the crisis than other countries in the euro area, greet agencies. The state has dampened with crisis recovery plan and welfare. The price: a high public deficit (7.5%), which must now reduce the risk of blowing up the already high public debt.

"Such imbalances require a recovery result of public finances, especially on the expenditure side, argue analysts from Standard & Poor's said in its latest report on France from July 2009. They said the debt should represent 90% of gross domestic product in 2011, against 78% today.

The government has already announced a freeze on public finances in late May, while spending on social security should continue to increase, says essentially Moody's in his March report, "which should result in an increase of 1% per year expenditure total. An objective "not particularly ambitious," says the agency, but nevertheless "should be difficult to take, given the unsuccessful efforts to control spending in the past."

"High levels of taxation"

Rating agencies do not seem to bear the greatest confidence in France, this country has two weaknesses, "the high level of taxation, which makes it difficult for future increases in taxes [to reduce the deficit, Ed] and expenditure rigidity, "is always Moody's. A suspicion reinforced by the presidential election of 2012, which could cause "potential expenditure," said Standard & Poor's.

The Fitch welcomes, however, "the intensification of social dialogue on public finance as an important step towards reversing the broad deficit" in a commentary published on May 28 She also applauded "the change in attitude of the government that understood the importance and urgency of fiscal adjustment."

Time is running out there? In the short term, "triple A in France is not in danger," wrote Moody's, often the last of three agencies to scale down its rating. Still, the separation between the country of degradation of the note is reduced "relentlessly," she says. At the rate of excavation of the debt.

Satisfaction and prudent. Patrice Durand, CFO, Thales has engaged in a balancing act by commenting on early trends of fiscal 2010. "We had an encouraging first quarter," says he. Markets remain difficult, the consolidated turnover increased by 8% (+5% at constant scope), while new orders booked increased 5% to 2.4 billion euros thanks to force of defense and security industry. In late March, the backlog exceeded 25 billion euros, or nearly two years of activity.

Annual objectives confirmed

However, the group finance director of defense and high technology remains cautious. "Our business is marked by a degree of seasonality. It would be premature to draw conclusions from this first quarter for the full year, "he warned.However, the group confirmed its annual goals: a stable income and an operating margin of 3% to 4%. It aims to build on its new organization – set up in late 2009 – and the first fruits of its "efficiency plan", called Basis Pro, which should reduce the cost of "poor quality" is ie the financial excesses of complex programs. In this regard, Patrice Durand said that "the landscape remains the same" for risk contracts (eg, development of avionics for the Airbus A400M military), because "you can not change radically a program in a few months, "but he adds" we are working hard in conjunction with Airbus.

Resumption of Aviation "uncertain"

The group led by Luc Vigneron remains cautious for the resumption of commercial aviation remained "uncertain" and the group will not benefit from the boost provided by the orders of the French army under the recovery plan. Unlike the budgetary pressure is at its height on the states of the euro area whose deficits have exploded over the past two years and who convert in a pinch. However, defense accounts for 60% in the activity of Thales. The challenge for the group will be to find new sources of growth outside Europe. In 2010 and in years to come.

Also on conviction to a fine of 630 million euros in total (including 15 million in interest) of France in the case of the sale of Lafayette-class frigates to Taiwan, Thales, whose share of the fine represents 27.463% of the contract or its part, has decided to "implement all available remedies" and will soon file an action for annulment before the Court of Appeal of Paris. "As an interim measure, the company will pass on its accounts of the first half of 2010 an additional provision of 35 million euros.

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