Sundial of world news

A dozen days after an employee is killed at the site of the nuclear reactor of the third generation EPR under construction at Flamanville, the newspaper L'Humanité reveals that the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) denounced a "deliberate process" of non- -reporting of accidents on the site, particularly on the part of Bouygues. In a report dated June 6, Constable nuclear lists 112 accidents occurred in 2010 on the site of the EPR with 38 accidents "to report has not been the subject of a declaration." Thus, about one accident in four has not been under declared.

ASN emphasizes the responsibility of employers, including Bouygues, which controls the civil works on site and Elco Construct. "In many cases (at least 11 examples for the group Bouygues and 8 Elco), these employers were informed of the accident.They also had knowledge of the regulatory requirement to report any accident, "wrote the Authority, adding that this proves" intent to evade the information of the inspector's work and thus to divert the surveillance "of it.

Bouygues denies responsibility

In January, when another worker, 37, died after falling from 13 to 15 meters that the CGT Bouygues accused of being responsible for the accident, and claimed to have provided the Justice documents showing that the giant construction labor law trampled on the site of Flamanville cheapest personal loan rates. A spot investigation for "manslaughter" was opened by the prosecutor of Cherbourg. And last April, ASN insiqué it was beginning an investigation of "under-reporting of accidents at the site of the EPR."

At EDF, prime contractor for the project is ensured then "make every effort" to improve the situation. The site manager was replaced a few months ago. But according to Bouygues, which controls the civil engineering of this project over 3000 workers, non-reporting of accidents "are personal initiatives." Twenty people-safety recall "regular" instructions. According to the unions, a dozen subcontractors are involved in these accidents.

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Background music, soft lighting, warm colors (brown and fuchsia), wooden floor and comfortable temperature: it is almost like a trendy bar. Yet although a supermarket of 550 square meters, opened two weeks ago in the heart of Marseille and named a new sign, "Unlike our competitors, with their sizes or City Express, we want to customers to spend time in store, "says Jean-Pierre Lanzetti, CEO Casino Near (Petit Casino, Vival Spar, Via Italia).

Casino Shopping and smaller version, Casino Shop (for stores with less than 350 square meters), may well flourish everywhere, if the group is satisfied with its test stores. After Marseille, a second will open in early July in Saint-Etienne, home of Casino, and eight small casino (in Lyon and Toulouse in particular) will be processed before the end of the year.The identity of the 1,800 stores, including "the grocer is a great guy" is fourteen years old and needed to be brought up to date.

Casino would react. Most of his competitors in fact lead the last two years an unprecedented drive to win in the city center, where the band Saint Etienne, which also owns Franprix and Monoprix, is in a strong position. Carrefour (City Express), Auchan (City and A 2 Step), Intermarché (Express) and Système U (Express) are all involved in a renovation or repositioning their format.

Deployment in 2012

"We take the time needed, the possible deployment of Shopping Shop and intervene only next year, wants to warn Jean-Pierre Lanzetti free business cards. The company decided to change many parameters at once.Employees are identified by their first names, the furniture is curved, the loyalty card enters and fresh produce, other than fruit and vegetables, are behind the doors are transparent, allowing the passage to reduce the energy bill of a quarter.

"We mainly worked on the set," says Jean-Pierre Lanzetti. Ranges and frozen drinks have been reduced in favor of fruits and vegetables and a large beauty department, which was missing in the Casino supermarkets. Creams, mascara and brushes already represent 15% of revenues Shopping Marseille. Of the 9000 references proposed products snacking Chez Jean (another sign of the group being tested since early 2009), and decorative packaging items from many parts of France. One can even order his coffee machine via a touch screen.Ultimately, this approach to extend the offer could affect other products.

To combat the image of dearth of supermarkets in the city center, prices have been reduced "from 15% to 18% compared to an equivalent Petit Casino," says the general manager of the branch nearby, betting on higher volumes .

The company has another trick: it forms partnerships with its suppliers to its customers enjoy benefits fidelity on Kronenbourg beer or cookies BN: "We have 100 partners to date that offer our clients 10 to 25 % discount, by September we will have 400, "says Jean-Pierre Lanzetti.

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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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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British phlegm is not what it was. Exasperated by American diplomats who refuse to pay the London congestion charge ", the congestion charge in place since 2005 to move or to park in the capital, the conservative mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has decided to directly attack the President Barack Obama.

Taking advantage of his official visit this week in Britain, he decided – not happy with him claiming some 8.7 million euros in arrears – all cars of the procession would pay tax like everyone else. Starting with the Cadillac of Chief of the U.S. state, nicknamed "the Beast" by the Secret Service because of his size and armor that are, according to experts, a real tank on wheels.Transport for London, the agency responsible for managing the toll, which depends on the mayor, is trying to calculate the bill at the rate of 11.50 euros per day per vehicle.

The Pope, himself, had nothing to pay in September 2010 but says Boris Johnson in the Evening Standard, the roads were closed to other traffic, while this time, they were not . And beware of other heads of state who want to go to London! All diplomatic missions should in fact the tune of 59 million.

What partly explain the irritation of the elect, who has seen the end of March a half-million English between Westminster and Hyde Park to protest against cuts in the government.

The members of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of the United States (Fed) are unanimous: the inflation in their country is only "temporary." This consensus on the issue of price is clear from the minutes of the meeting held on 26 and 27 April. "Participants generally expected that the higher level of inflation would be a passenger," says the Fed on Wednesday.

According to the latter, "that forecast was based in part on a projection that the curve of changes in commodity prices would flatten out and the belief that inflation expectations remain stable longer term." As a reminder, the Fed on a table in 2011 inflation in the United States between 2.1 and 2.8% this year.In April, she displayed an increase of 3.2% over one year and 1.3% excluding food and energy.

Participants in that meeting had in fact echoed the boss of the Central Bank, Ben Bernanke. In early April, he had described the current surge in prices of "transient". Remarks which had so angered the American press which noted the difference between the Fed and the general public is faced with higher prices at the pump in a fixed wage.

Liquidate assets

Inflation, which was at the heart of discussions at that meeting led to another consensus on the need for further monetary policy support the economy until at least late June. The main rate by the Fed remains close to zero.

Citing how the monetary institution should withdraw that support when the time comes, most leaders of the U.S. Federal Reserve agreed that it will take it winds up its portfolio in the medium term and that priority was separate assets linked to mortgages. "Many of these participants also expressed their preference for such assignments are relatively progressive," it added.

On Wall Street, markets mostly hold these discussions "should not be perceived as a sign that the Fed is preparing to raise rates." The Dow Jones, who played in a small increase before the publication of the report, closing with a gain of 0.65% at 12,560 points.

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The director of Medicare does not hide its intention, revealing new figures on excess fees, weigh on the negotiations with private doctors, which should lead to early summer. "The system just drift since its inception 30 years ago, Frederick van Roekeghem regrets. We want to sound the alarm on the need to implement structural reforms. "

Overruns (these are requested beyond the "tariff Safely" legally by doctors of "Sector 2 but poorly repaid by certain complementary health) accounted last year for 2.5 billion euros, on a total of 20.9 billion euros in fees. A proportion is similar in style singled out by the Inspectorate of Social Affairs in 2004, which argued that while a "significant increase" during the previous decade.But behind this "apparent stability", says Fred van Roekeghem lies a greater concentration.

In 1990, 16% of physicians "family" could charge excess fees. Since then, the degree requirements were introduced which prevent virtually any plant of the generalist sector 2, and only 7% of workforce is concerned. The proportion of specialists in Area 2, with her stable for the past twenty years (41% in 2010). But if she fell for clinical specialties (pediatricians, dermatologists, gastroenterologists between 32% and 40%), it flies in the operating room: 34% against 28% for anesthesiologists, 85% against 73% for surgeons.And in all these areas, the sector will expand in the next two years as junior doctors settle overwhelmingly.

Physicians increasingly "greedy"

In addition, doctors applying overruns are becoming more "gourmet" on the amounts required: 54% of the "Safely rate, on average, against 25% in 1990. Note that Medicare confirms the intuition of the French Mutuality: 4.5% of public hospital doctors allowed to perform – for 20% of their working time to the maximum – a professional activity in area 2 practice overruns higher than their liberal counterparts "pure." Supplements such resources reach 81% in surgery, against 56% in the private sector, 80% against 48% in ENT, ophthalmology, or 96%, 60% cons.

Overtaking both more frequent and higher are concentrated in certain areas – with high purchasing power – like Paris and West of the Ile-de-France, Rhône, Alsace and the Coast d'Azur.

A problem of access to care

Nevertheless. "The phenomenon empire, says Frederick van Roekeghem. It poses a problem of access to care. " The boss of Medicare does not refute the argument of doctors (surgeons in particular): they are using the overruns is that the social security system pays too little certain acts, given their cost, their difficulty, duration, or the risk that affects the amount of insurance premiums. It's good to help doctors make more money without costing too much to Medicare that the sector 2 was created in 1980 by Raymond Barre.And it's not a coincidence that the least among specialists in Sector 2 are installed cardiologists (20%) and radiologists (13%), considered very good living by simply make rates Safely.

Frederick van Roekeghem says ready to act on the question to finally allow the entry into force of the solution advocated since 2004: the "optional sector. This would be for anesthesiologists, surgeons and obstetricians Area 2 volunteers to achieve at least 30% of their actions and costs Safely, do not charge for overruns over 50% on the rest of their activity, complementary health s 'committing their part to repay the money. "This discussion will reopen. I think it's the last time, "warns the director of Medicare.

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The NYSE playing yoyo on Thursday. After starting down (-0.20% for the Dow Jones), the indices reflected the upward path. About 20 hours in Paris, the Dow Jones gained 0.48% at 12,691 points, the Nasdaq is 0.56% at 2861 points and the S & P advance of 0.51% to 1349 points.

This return is in the green at the same time as the rise in oil prices. The latter, who had also opened lower at 96.96 dollars, recovered after a sharp color correction yesterday. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, the price rises to $ 99.

Caution remains formatting: "Concerns about Europe and the debt crisis with the International Monetary Fund warning of a risk of contagion from the situation in Greece, indicators Chinese earlier this week, The warning from the International Energy Agency on oil demand, it all comes out at once and shower market, "said Phil Flynn of PFG Best Research.

Greece worries

The fiscal situation in Greece still disturbs the meeting. Thousands of Greeks have shown Wednesday, the day of general strike against austerity measures and privatizations decided by the government that seeks new international aid to avoid a debt restructuring of the country.

In the wake of these events, the euro fell sharply against the greenback, falling below $ 1.42 Wednesday. But about 20 hours, the single currency rises.The euro bought 1.4266 dollars at that time against 1.4193 dollars late Wednesday.

Retail sales and producer prices

On the macroeconomic front, retail sales rose slightly less than expected in April in the U.S. (+0.5% against 0.6%), posting their smallest increase in nine months as rising prices Food and fuel accounts for household spending.The producer prices have increased them by 0.8% in April according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department, more than expected by analysts who had forecast 0.5%.

New jobless claims fell to 434,000 during the first week of May, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department, down nearly equal to the unexpected increase in the previous week.

Finally, business inventories rose more than expected in March, while sales posted their largest gain in a year, suggesting that first-quarter GDP will be revised upward, said Thursday the Commerce Department.Inventories rose 1.0% to 1.476 billion dollars, its highest level since November 2008, while economists polled by Reuters had waited an increase of 0.8%.

The side of values

The oil companies, heavyweights rating penalized yesterday by falling prices, contributing to their rise on Thursday. Thus, Chevron gained 0.66% to 102.936 dollars and ExxonMobil up from 0.38% to 81.43 dollars.

Cisco has unveiled for the fourth quarter of 2010/2011 a turnover of 1.67 billion, up 9% and net profits tax of 168 million dollars against 184 million last year. For the current quarter, the software company believes that business prospects are mixed and the current quarter will be "low" according to the leaders. The title loses 6.02% to 16.72 dollars.

The publisher of security software and antivirus software, Symantec (3.40 to 20.07 dollars) has announced earnings per share of 38 cents against 36 cents expected by analysts, and a turnover of 1 , 67 billion also exceeded expectations of analysts who had forecast $ 1.6 billion.

Google Internet group (-0.80% to 531.15 U.S. dollars) will launch next month the first computers using its new operating system chrome, representing a total challenge to the business model of Microsoft with its Windows system.These computers manufactured by Acer and Samsung, will have the distinction of having the browser Chrome only software preinstalled.

The U.S. internet group Yahoo! (-1.51% To 16.95 dolars) is still buffeted stock exchange after revealing that a subsidiary of the Chinese payment service online Alibaba Group, where he has a major stake, was passed under the control of boss Jack Ma of Alibaba

The rating agency Standard and Poor's said Wednesday evening that she fell a notch to "BBB", the note of U.S. chemicals group Dow Chemical (-1.23% to 38.52 U.S. dollars) with a stable outlook, due to the progress of its results and its prospects for debt reduction.

Also note, the leaders of telecom operators AT & T and T-Mobile (+0.13% to 31.42 dollars) clashed Wednesday night on U.S. lawmakers skeptical of their merger at $ 39 billion, announced in March . "Now four companies control nearly 90% of the national market of mobile telephony," said Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy. He called the competition authorities and Communications to conduct an extensive review of the transaction.

The markets took fright on Friday night after a new European cacophony. Greece had threatened to leave the euro in discussions with the European Commission, reports the website of German magazine Der Spiegel quoted a government source in Berlin. The major European capitals have refuted this information.

"These items are a challenge, undermine the effort of Greece and the euro and serve speculative games," said the Greek finance ministry said in a statement. "We did not discuss output of Greece in the euro area, we all think it would be a stupid option," added the president of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker. "The assumption of an outflow of Greece to the euro area is completely fanciful", also assured Bercy.

Despite denials by the French, German and Greek, the single currency accelerated its decline against the dollar.Friday night shortly before 22:30, the euro lost nearly 1.4% to 1.4338 dollar. Rumor sign a new stage, and this information is disturbing. It is not surprising that the euro will weaken, "said one analyst at a U.S. bank. At the same time, the cost of insurance against a collapse of the Greek debt ("Credit default swaps, or CDS) jumped from 74 basis points to a record 1,370 basis points, according to Markit.

Meeting in Luxembourg

An emergency meeting, was held between some finance ministers from the eurozone. Jean-Claude Juncker as a German government source quoted by AFP on Saturday, it was denied solely on Greece.

"These are meetings that take place at irregular intervals, and mainly" the members of the euro area as the G20, such as France, Germany and Italy, the source said German.It argues, the discussions covered a wide variety of topics, including the regulation of financial markets, with Portugal, but also the financial situation of Greece. The Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou also confirmed to have attended the meeting Friday.

A debt restructuring envisaged Greek

According to the Greek press on Saturday, new support measures have been studied. The financial daily Naftemboriki referred to the lengthening of bonds maturing this year and in 2012, leaving Greece a breather. According to another newspaper, Kathimerini, the objectives of reducing the public deficit could also be pushed back two to four years, or interest rates in exchange for an extended break of two years, during which the country does not pay interest.

Contradictory statements are troubling indeed the euro area in recent weeks about a possible debt restructuring Greek. Lars Feld, one of economic advisers to Angela Merkel, considered by example on Sunday that the restructuring is "the only way forward so that Greece is a little relieved that creditors and help to solve the Greek problem." Jean-Claude Juncker for his part assured that this option had been ruled Friday. While stating that the possibility of a new adjustment program would be discussed at the next meeting of the Eurogroup on 16 May.

Achieved. Shaken by the deteriorating situation in Japan's nuclear, the CAC 40 was able to reconnect with the 4000 points in mid-session, after finishing on Tuesday a net decrease of 1.54%, below the psychological threshold. On Wednesday traders try so successful ascent, in the footsteps of Asian markets. The CAC 40 advanced 0.79% to 4,008.04 shortly after midday.

Same trend in London and Frankfurt. After opening in the green, clinching the two exchanges respectively 0.97% and 0.85% in mid-day.

Markets react without panic to the new aftershock of magnitude 5.8 that struck today north-eastern Japan and shook buildings in Tokyo. In addition, they host without the excessive pessimism downward revision of economic forecasts of the archipelago by the government.In a report, it says that the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster that struck the country will impact on a "temporary" consumption and consumer confidence, exports, industrial production and employment. The triple disaster, whose total cost amounts to about $ 300 billion, will require a supplementary budget of 4000 billion yen (33 billion). "The economy, which was improving, experiencing a phase of weakness, because of the consequences of the great earthquake northeast of Japan," says the government.

Gust Statistics

In this context, progress is therefore no euphoria. Especially since many key indicators are expected to analyze both sides of the Atlantic.In France, consumer prices rose 0.8% in France in March from the previous month and one-year inflation accelerated to 2%, show statistics released Wednesday by the INSEE.

In the euro zone industrial production rose 0.4% in February compared to January, when it grew by 0.2%, according to data released Wednesday by the EU statistics office Eurostat.

In the U.S., retail sales and March business inventories for February will be at the rendezvous, like the weekly oil inventories. The Fed's Beige Book will also be particularly scrutinized for 20 hours across the Atlantic.

Side of the oil markets, time is decreasing. Concerned by the level of demand, investors pull down prices.Shortly after noon, a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery, accounts for 0.29% 106 $ 56.

On the currency markets, the euro rises against the dollar and reappears slightly above $ 1.45.

Total in the viewfinder of S & P

As for values, Alcatel-Lucent (6.16% to 3.997 euros) recorded the largest increase in the CAC 40 to Accor (2.30% to 30.875 euros). Alcatel is supported by an increase of recommendation from Morgan Stanley to overweight value, weighting cons before guaranteed payday loans.

Schneider Electric: + 0.09% to EUR 113

The group has denied this morning to be "currently" in discussions with Tyco International today.The Daily Telegraph announced Tuesday that Schneider Electric had sent a letter in which he showed his interest in an offer of $ 30 billion on Tyco International, from the perspective of giving birth to the world's leading security systems.

Areva: -0.10% to 30.89 euros

The nuclear expert said Wednesday it has won a contract for the installation of a solar thermal concentrator coupled to the coal-fired Kogan Creek, operated by CS Energy in Australia.

Total: + 0.75% to 42.255 euros

Standard and Poor's lowered the long-term credit rating of the oil group to "AA-" cons "AA" previously, with stable outlook.

Casino: -0.80% to 69.76 euros

The group confirmed on Tuesday after its goals have increased sales by 18.8% in first quarter 2011 due to changes in the portfolio in Brazil and Thailand as well as confirmation of the reorganization of Leader Price.

Credit Agricole + 0.26% to 11.73 euros

The bank president, Jean-Marie Sander, said he was confident the group's business in Japan, noting that the country's economy and its banking system remained strong despite the disaster of 11 March.The chairman of the management company of the bank's assets in Japan, Christian Romeyer said his side that the Japanese savings does not seem dramatically affected by the crisis.

Renault: + 1.52% to 38.32 euros

CEO Carlos Ghosn would not "abandon ship" when the false espionage scandal has unsettled the French group, which must now focus on implementing its strategic plan, said in an interview with Les Echos on Wednesday.

JCDecaux: + 0.26% to 23.01 euros

A group of shareholders of Affichage Holding, Geneva company 30% owned by French group, said the board of directors to court for 150 million Swiss francs (115.6 million euros) after an acquisition in Greece resulted in significant losses.

Vinci: + 1.30% to 43.35 euros

Under the contract LGV Bordeaux Tour, the group selected in March 2010 to build and operate this path, calling for several weeks an extension to the original contract of 7.2 billion, according to information of Figaro.

After market, Kaufman & Broad will release its first quarter results, Fleury Michon announce its results for the fourth quarter of 2010 and its turnover in the first quarter of 2011. Cegedim and Etam will publish their results for the fourth quarter and Camaïeu will unveil its turnover in the first quarter.