Sundial of world news

Danone raised its sales growth target for 2010 after the publication of its results for the first half Tuesday. The group recorded an increase in its turnover by 7% over the period (6.9% in the second quarter) to 8.364 billion euros. Danone now expects growth in sales of "at least 6%," cons "at least 5%" previously.

Current operating margin stood at 15.30% in the first half, against 16.03% over the same period in 2009. The band announced target for the whole year stable margins on a comparable basis compared to 2009. The operating profit amounted to 1.28 billion (against 1.2 in the first half of 2009).

The current net profit climbed 10.1% to 848 million euros.

Danone also aims to increase free cash flow from operations of at least 10% compared to 2009 historical data.

"A good start to the year"

Group CEO, Franck Riboud, speaking of a "good start to the year" and that Danone announces in particular will continue "to invest in developing countries, products and brands with strong potential: Child Nutrition in Asia, the Fresh Dairy division in United States, Brazil, Russia.

"At the same time, he adds, we are continuing our efforts to improve productivity, essential to cope with the volatility of our raw materials." Third key point, Franck Riboud said that "cash generation continues to grow strongly."

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."

ALSO READ:

"Retirement at age 62 endorsed in committee

"Pensions: the project corrected the margin in the Assembly

The French committee of manufacturers (CCFA) set the tone by announcing in May the first decline in the market over one year with a sales decline of 11.5% in the month of May On Thursday, the CCFA should announce at 24:01 new track to exit the sector with a heavy fall in the market about 10% in June according to preliminary figures announced by BFM. In its Thursday edition, the Parisian is a little less pessimistic and foresees a decline of 7.5%.

Throughout the first half, however, sales are expected to increase by 4% thanks to good figures at the beginning of the year. In the first quarter, the premium had already broken down, but the manufacturers had assured compensation. Result: the market had increased by 16.9%. The second quarter would be less attractive, the end of car scrapping seriously starting to feel their effects.

Renault is doing well

As for manufacturers, all the French have won market share. Renault is the one who gets the better of the game's pin manufacturer would have gained 1% market share. On June alone, its subsidiary Dacia has sold as many cars than the whole of 2009. According to Bernard Cambier, director of sales Renault France, the Sandero is indeed the best-selling car in France. In total, Dacia would hand over 5% of the French market.

As for foreign carmakers, Volkswagen resist well. Exports of German cars rose 46% in the month of May

Scrappage EUR 500

According to BFM, the prospects are not reassuring. In the second half, the reduction would be 20%. Nevertheless, the number of cars sold would be even higher CUX 2007 and 2008.For the full year 2010, the decline would be 10%.

The market expected a backlash over the second half of the year. The July 1 heralds a new drop in scrap bonus which amounts to 700 euros to 500 euros. More government aid declining, manufacturers are less able to compensate. In Europe, the example of Germany left pointing to an already difficult year-end. The country, which ended the scrappage scheme in September 2009, showed a slump of 34% of registrations in the month of May.

ALSO READ:

»Automotive: New lower sales in Europe

"Automotive: end bonuses begins to be felt

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.

Bureau Veritas announced Tuesday the acquisition of Inspectorate, specialist inspection and testing of raw materials and subsidiary of British Inspicio. The transaction amounted to 450 million pounds (nearly 540 million euros) and should be completed in the third quarter of 2010.

Inspectorate, currently held by the investment company 3i, is also present on the testing of petroleum products and petrochemicals (59% of its turnover), metals, minerals and agricultural products.The company recorded 2009 sales of 246 million pounds (280 million euros).

In a statement, Bureau Veritas claims that the acquisition allows it to position itself as "one of the world's leading inspection and testing of raw materials," a buoyant market, "according to Chairman Frank Piedelièvre group, whose potential amounts to 5 billion euros, according to the group saving account payday loan.

Inspectorate therefore give "a new dimension to the group that doubles the size of its laboratory network (330 sites) and now offers a range of services the industry's broadest assessment of compliance."

Bureau Veritas says that the transaction will be financed through existing credit lines and newly negotiated. The group expects a turnover of around 3 billion euros in 2010.It amounted in 2009 to 2,648,000,000 euros.

The alerts about the financial health of Spain were further strengthened Wednesday after the revelations of the Spanish newspaper El Economista. According to business daily, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund are preparing a rescue plan for Spain, providing a credit line of between 200 and 250 billion euros. The announcement of a forthcoming call for help had already returned insistently in recent days in the German press. Information that Brussels and the IMF have strongly denied Wednesday.

The announcement of a visit by IMF Managing Director, scheduled for Friday, has added to the panic. Although Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Wednesday in Paris that it was only "a working visit". To cut short the rumors, general manager told AFP he goes to all European countries."I'm in France, is there any rumors in France? I'm going to Italy. Is there any rumors in Italy? "He also downplayed the financial problems of Spain at a conference on Europe and China:" It is also said to exaggerate it a country that has great difficulty and yet the debt is 53% of GDP, which is relatively modest. "

Labour Market Reform

The Spanish head of government has also applied to reassure. Spain is a "country solvent, solid, strong and with the international credit, said Wednesday Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero before the Spanish Parliament. The Economy Minister Elena Salgado for his part denied that Brussels has put pressure on Madrid. Support for the Spanish cause is from Paris."We see no reason to be concerned for Spain, and there is no subject in the Spanish agenda of the European Council, it was said at the Elysee.

These multiple statements have not been enough to calm markets that have remained very nervous. The Spanish rate in a decade rose 10 points in the day 4.8%, approaching levels Portuguese. The yield spread between German and Spanish titles to ten years to 223 basis points on Wednesday, a record, as investors consider the Spanish debt more risky. The motion of no confidence falls ill in Madrid, which must issue this morning 3.5 billion euros of bonds to ten years.

The concern of the market relates to both the country's financial situation and the capacity of economic recovery.The government on Wednesday passed a labor reform, considered essential for revitalizing the job but remains highly contested by the unions.

In a report released Wednesday, the Bank of Spain insists on the need to implement "as quickly as possible" of economic adjustment measures to increase the competitiveness of the economy Hispanic counter the drop in employment and deterioration public finances. But the Spanish savings banks, the Achilles heel of the banking sector, require 11 billion euros to the state for further restructuring.

ALSO READ:

"After Greece, Spain is at the center of speculation

"Spain announces a new dose of austerity

The U.S. stock market continues its recovery. Contrary to the meeting on Tuesday where they were fenced in a disorganized, Wednesday's session saw the U.S. markets move all in green. At mid-session, the Dow Jones gained 0.96% at 10,040 points, the Nasdaq advance of 1.32% to 2199 points and the S & P 500 rose 1.06% to 1073 points. Tuesday already, after long hesitation which direction to take, the NYSE has done piecemeal. The Dow Jones gained 1.26%, but the Nasdaq has yielded 0.16%.

USA: growth "robust" in 2010 and 2011

On the foreign exchange market, the euro relapsing slightly in the morning against the greenback, hit by new fears over a deepening crisis in Europe.The European currency was worth 1.1942 dollars, against 1.1967 dollars the previous day.

Unsurprisingly, Ben Bernanke has confirmed the speech he gave Monday saying that the economic recovery appeared to be "solid" in the United States.

Heavy oil stocks decline

U.S. inventories of crude oil dropped more than expected last week, said Wednesday the U.S. Agency for Energy Information (EIA). Crude inventories fell 1.8 million barrels to 361.4 million. Economists on average had expected a decline of 900,000 barrels.

Today on Wall Street investors expect the Beige Book Federal Reserve, a report on economic conditions in the United States.Analysts said the report should confirm an increase in economic activity, but no sign of inflation, reinforcing the idea that the Fed is in no hurry to raise interest rates immediately.

After the disappointment of last Friday on the job figures, investors should pay particular attention to weekly figures for unemployment benefits to be published tomorrow payday loan.Among the major events of the week macroeconomic Friday, the market will face a survey about the mood of consumers.

On the side of values, the fast food giant McDonald's (+0.18% to 68.50 dollars) and the diverse group 3M U.S. (0.56% to 75.34 U.S. dollars) has warned that the collapse of the euro against the dollar would have a negative impact on their results.

Texas Instruments announced that its earnings and its turnover in the second quarter would be in the top end of its previous estimates.

The first U.S. carmaker, General Motors (GM) announced Tuesday the recall of 1.5 million vehicles worldwide, the vast majority in the U.S., for Fire Risk washer.

The U.S. giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) (-0.17% to 45.80 U.S. dollars) has launched a new series of printers capable of drawing paper from a mobile phone or other multi-function devices connected to the Internet.

Also note, the U.S. stock Constable, the SEC announced yesterday after the close that he could approve this week the creation of circuit breakers on trading platforms to avoid the repetition of "crash blitz last month on Wall Street, reported Tuesday the Wall Street Journal. For their part, the elected U.S. Congress to negotiate a version of the reform of financial regulation common to both chambers said Tuesday that those talks could be completed by the June 26 Bank stocks may react to this set of measures.

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.

ALSO READ:

"No import electricity this summer

"INTERVIEW -" The price of electricity will only increase "

In the wake of a turbulent session on world stock markets, Asian markets are moving in the red Friday, but less dark than its U.S. counterparts, where the Dow Jones unscrewed 3.5%, and Europe, where the EuroStoxx 500 flinched almost 2%.

For example, Hong Kong, the Hang Seng yields 0.17%, to 19,545 points, in Australia, the S & P / ASX Index plaice 0.57% to 4292 points and in India, the BSO Sensex down 1.3% at 16,305 points. In China, the CSI index is even 0.15% to 2730 points.

The Nikkei skids

However, the trend is much more frank in Singapore and Japan: the Singapore Straits Times stumbles to 6:50 2.3% to 2689 points and the Nikkei 225 below 10,000 rating points to 9784 points exactly, showing a sharp fall again 2.45%.

The key index in Tokyo was not dropped below the symbolic 10,000 points since February 8, 2010.Investors are concerned that growth in Europe is too weak in the coming years and that this drives up the appreciation of Asian currencies, the yen in the crosshairs.

The Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced it was maintaining its key rate at 0.1% and it injected 1,000 billion yen (8.85 billion euros) in the country's banking system, to reassure markets worried about the problems of the euro area. Thursday evening, Spain's new growth forecast apr_ès the anonce an austerity plan of 15 billion euros.The country's growth will be only 1.3% this year against a previous estimate of 1.8%.

This Friday, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) has held that "the fiscal health of some European economies," posed a risk to economic recovery.

Investments in companies

As for values, the Japanese carmaker Toyota (-2.5% to 3,335 yen) will invest 50 million dollars in capital of U.S. manufacturer Tesla for joint production of electric vehicles at a plant in California.

Under the agreement signed in Palo Alto headquarters of Tesla Motors, the two partners' intend to cooperate in developing electric vehicles, spare parts, in production systems and engineering, "said a joint statement released Friday.

In China, as PetroChina was down Friday morning at the Shanghai Stock Exchange, after the oil giant had announced its intention to invest 60 billion dollars abroad in ten years. It lost 2.3% to 10.62 yuan (1.6 dollars).