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The accounts of the first quarter of Compagnie Generale de Geophysique-Veritas (CGG Veritas) illustrate the difficult trading conditions which prevailed in the second half.

Specialist Geophysics, whose clients include oil and gas companies, released on Wednesday morning a symbolic net profit in the first three months of the year: 1 million dollars, 760,000 euros. It was 5 million in the fourth quarter 2009 and 71 million over the first three months of 2009.

Another sign of weakness to the group led by Robert Brunck, operating profit of 37 million dollars (28.5 million euros) between January and March 2010, which fell by 33% compared to the previous period and is and divided by more than three compared to first quarter 2009. Operating margin also exited at 5%, against 7% and 15%.What is much less than the operating profit expected by analysts of Gilbert Dupont (7.5%).

For the CEO of CGG Veritas, the rest of 2010, increased investment in exploration and oil production continues, "and will gradually lead the market upward seismic. A recovery that will benefit from first Sercel, the seismic equipment manufacturing industry (32% of sales), the group said.

The stock price in great form since the beginning of the year

This quarterly publication disappoint Wednesday: CGG Veritas shares fell by more than 7% at the Paris Bourse.They cotent to 15 hours, 20.3 euros.

But since the beginning of the year, the increase in stock price is still high at almost 43% against a background of positive recommendations from several consulting firms, mostly optimistic about the prospects of CGG Veritas.

Like Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, which raised its price target on the value of 20-27 euros, saying that "the average life span of the fleet grow from 18 years in 2007 to 11 years 'By the end of 2010, with an average number of streamers (a tool for measuring the seismic data, Ed) per vessel increased by 10 to 12 by 2012 " flexcheck cash advance.What, according to the broker, expect "good surprises at the margins.

Morgan Stanley also recently referred to above – 20 to 22 euro – showing that the oil services industry evokes options included about $ 310,000 per day for vessels to be used in the third quarter of 2010. In other words, prices rise by 40% since a ship costs about $ 220,000 the day at acruelle.

On Tuesday, Gilbert Dupont reiterated his advice to "accumulate" CGG Veritas shares, and recommends to hang over the quans profits reach EUR 25.5.

Bourbon sign a big contract in Brazil

The Bourbon Group, also specialized in oilfield services, announced on Wednesday morning a turnover in line with expectations, fell 1% to 236 million euros.

The group also announced it has won a long-term contract in Brazil, estimated by Natixis to about 100 million euros of turnover split over periods of contracts 3 to 8 years.

This is a contract for 13 new vessels (1 and 7 PSV AHTS type liberty for offshore continental and five crew boats) that will allow it to "almost double its size in the country by the end of the year, "said the broker.

In the first stock exchanges, securities Bourbon drop 1.45%, to 31.65 euros.

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The standoff between Apple and Adobe is a rotating record. In the U.S. antitrust authorities are taking a close look at Apple, and are investigating whether the refusal of Flash on the iPhone, and iPod touch iPad is a barrier to competition. According to the Anglo-Saxon, the Ministry of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) study the desirability of launching a formal investigation and discuss the distribution of the proceedings.

These are a few lines slipped into the contract for the next iPhone software, which alerted the authorities of the competition. Since one month, Apple requires application developers for its mobile devices to use its own software development. This decision led to the banishment of a handful of tools unofficial iPhone development.Including the Adobe Creative Suite 5, which was designed to create Flash applications.

In an open letter published last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has explained the reasons which led to the prohibition of applications developed with other development interfaces. Apple, he said, wants the software for iPhone take advantage of all the functions of the smartphone. Requirements hardly tenable with Flash, which focuses on compatibility with a wide variety of devices (phones, computers, shelves, televisions), rather than optimizing for one of them.

"Obviously anticompetitive"

Adobe, meanwhile, accuses Apple of foreclosure applications on the App Store for its own benefit. "What it does is clearly anticompetitive," responded David Balto, a former head of the FTC. But the issue divided the experts.Another former head of the FTC, more nuanced, felt it necessary to show that Apple is dominant in this sector. Or prove that its new rules affect the consumer.

No stranger to antitrust proceedings against its rivals, including Microsoft, Apple has in any case rarely found in this position of defendant. But in Mobile, where he became the number one American, the positions have changed. Last year, the FTC had already interested in its policy of banning applications on the App Store. The acquisition of the mobile advertising AdMob for Google is also under investigation "push". A potential deadlock that would serve both the interests of Apple, which launched its own offering, DST.

By putting on Thursday Ermine first President of the Court of Auditors, Didier Migaud definitively stored his old political habits. Former socialist president of the Finance Committee of the Assembly, appointed under the opening by Nicolas Sarkozy to succeed Philippe S?guin, who died suddenly last January, does not distract the institution's objectives: "The fundamental role of the Court" is to "give citizens the information they are entitled (…). Needless to seek an indescribable sense of power-cons, "he said Thursday on the occasion of his installation, in the presence of head of state, presidents of the Senate and the Assembly and Ministers Budget and Justice."The Court and the financial courts are not judges of the desirability of public policies: they have to assess how and to assess the results."

Take height and work in a bipartisan … This is not an empty word for close to Laurent Fabius – who was one of the first to congratulate him on Thursday after his swearing. Didier Migaud notably drafted with Senator UMP Alain Lambert organic law on finance laws (LOLF) rule that since 2006 the annual budget presentation to the State. But he also participated in the commission P?bereau debt. The chairman of BNP Paribas has always praised the sense of responsibility of the member of the Isere, which had agreed to sign a report calling for deep cuts in public spending, despite pressure from his political camp cash advance america . His case is not isolated as 52 000 hectares of land have been invaded by salt water after the passage of Xynthia. "It will take years and years for desalination," said the farmer. Bruno Mayor announced a plan to tens of millions of euros to farmers (see box below)."I shall return in a few weeks to see how its implementation takes place," he said.

A plan dedicated to farmers

A budget of several million euros to farmers. This was announced on Wednesday the Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Le Maire, the operators hit this weekend by storm Xynthia. In detail, two types of aid are considered. Firstly, a reduced specific financial burdens and also social. The state with the Agricultural Social Insurance Agency has raised 5 million euros for the first strand.

Then, after a case-by-case damage caused by Xynthia field, another package will be released under the National Guarantee Fund for Agricultural Disasters (FNGCA)."Given an initial estimate and according to recent experiments, this should be in the tens of millions of euros," said one familiar with the matter. The new aid will complement those of the plan emergency support and to the extent permitted by Brussels (De minimis 15 000 per farm). For their part farmers have asked for clemency for the administration, for example, identification of dead animals or statements in order to benefit from the CAP.

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A territorial policy of social housing, that is to say building in priority areas in deficit, such is the ambition on Wednesday by Secretary of State for Housing. Two days after the publication of an alarming report of the Fondation Abb? Pierre on poor housing, Benoist Appearing presented the draft state for 2010, namely to contribute up to 4.7 billion euros to finance 140,000 housing, half in Ile-de-France, Rh?ne-Alpes and Provence-Alpes-C?te d'Azur, the zones "tense". The program is ambitious, even by the balance of 2009 when 120,000 housing units were built "three times more than in 2000, the ministry said.

4 billion tax form

But if the Social Union for Housing which manages public housing can not approve a policy that it "calls for two years, is on the question of financing the rub.The state budget provides for the payment of 624 million euros to public housing agencies as aid to the stone. The rest of the state aid-more than 4 billion-will take the form of tax incentives (VAT, property tax, preferential interest rates). "The $ 624 million is less than 660 million euros achieved in 2009, and far from the 800 million budgeted in 2008," laments Pierre Quercy, general delegate of the Social Union for Housing which manages public housing best payday advance . "We're going to build a priority in areas of shortage, and therefore more expensive, but with less money," says the delegate general who believes a more realistic assessment of the number of homes built to last 100,000.

At the Department, any accusation of declining level of aid is denied."The effort of the State is not limited to 624 million euros of aid to the stone, take into account the full support of 4.7 billion euros, which will build 140,000 homes social, said the firm Benoist Appeared. Construction or purchase. As announced Tuesday the secretary of state, public housing agencies will be able to acquire any vacant units to turn them into housing. Another idea supported by the Social Union for Housing, but according to Pierre Quercy will face the same problems of funding. "We estimate that 350 million euros of state aid would be needed to buy 10,000 housing units in the tense areas," said the delegate general. What largely begin the budget.

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This time it's official: the Dutch Spyker has concluded an agreement with U.S. giant General Motors (GM) to her resume its Swedish subsidiary Saab.

Until this agreement, the case n Saab has stopped bouncing. While the U.S. giant General Motors said in December that it simply shut its Swedish subsidiary Saab lack of buyer, the Dutch Spyker Cars was returned to office with an offer the last chance. Rumors surrounding the conclusion of this agreement have been numerous throughout the day. Spyker very careful not wanting to comment on reports that circulated in financial markets.

Spyker Trading suspended

Despite this caution, speculation quickly swelled Tuesday.So much so that the Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) has decided to suspend trading in the Spyker action on the exchanges of Amsterdam at 12:45 GMT and that "until further notice" creditreport . The title of the Dutch manufacturer had gained 2.8%, to 3.90 euros before the intervention of the regulator. The AFM said it was awaiting the publication of a statement by Spyker, to clarify the situation.

Spyker is the only candidate for the acquisition of Saab. The group would put 400 million dollars on the table in cash (74 million) and shares (326 million) of the new company that emerged from the sale, according to sources familiar with the matter. Take it or leave it. Leaders from General Motors and Spyker met last Friday in Stockholm to address the remaining points of detail, reports U.S. magazine BusinessWeek.In particular, future production plans for this "new Saab.

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Patrick Devedjian, Minister of Recovery, Luc Chatel, a spokesman of the government, Eric Woerth, budget minister, Christine Lagarde, Minister of Economy, have multiplied statements Wednesday to defend the annual remuneration of Henri Proglio, chairman of 'EDF and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Veolia. On Thursday morning, Christian Estrosi has added a layer. On RTL, he said: "Christine Lagarde gave a notice is so that the government", adding: "Christine Lagarde, on behalf of the government changed its mind."

The opposition and some elected right triggered a controversy. They accuse Henri Proglio receiving dual compensation amounting in total to 2.05 million. The latter receives 450 000 EUR at Veolia. It affects one million euros plus a variable up to 60% of his salary fixed at EDF. 1.6 million.This figure was confirmed by the Ministry of Economy. The Board of Directors of EDF must treat this matter on Thursday.

Aurelie Filippetti, PS national secretary for energy, has denounced the "indecent compensation" pay day loans . The President of the modem, Fran?ois Bayrou, has raised an "affront to the principles of our Republic". In November, Christine Lagarde had said before the Senate Henri Proglio not touch two salaries. The UMP MP Val?rie Rosso-Debord, close to Fran?ois Fillon, acted "very shocked" by this combination. Asked in the National Assembly by the Socialist deputy Christian Eckert, Christine Lagarde said in the heckling of opposition. "The president of EDF is not paid more than when he was boss of Veolia.He must face reality: there is a market, competitors, a world that has changed, "said the minister, who recalled that" the conditions in which Henri Proglio has agreed to join the group EDF were twofold: to retain non-operational role at Veolia and devote his full time to EDF.

According to the firm Proxinvest in 2008, an Executive Chairman of the CAC 40 gained 3.6 million euros. A non-executive chairman who presides over a board, 864 225 euros.

Coup de th??tre to the Constitutional Council. Tuesday night is no less a pillar of the 2010 budget that the Sages retoque in deciding to cancel the carbon tax in its entirety. In their decision, the constitutional judges – seized last week by the Parliamentary Socialists – have ruled that the law created too many exemptions, which is "contrary to the objective of fighting against global warming" and creates an inequality in tax."Less than half the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions would have been subject to contributions to carbon, because many of these exemptions, they argued.

In detail, the Constitutional Council has stressed that "were totally exempt contribution of carbon emissions from power plants generating electricity, emissions from industrial sites in 1018 the most polluting (refineries, cement, coke …) "emissions from aviation" or "those of the public transport of passengers by road. "These exemptions have led to only 93% of emissions from industrial sources, excluding fuel, are exempt from carbon contribution," according to the text.The tax would have "focused on fuel and heating products that are only one source of emission of carbon dioxide.

An alternative is proposed by Fillon January 20

Shortly after the publication of the decision of the Elders, Matignon has announced that Francois Fillon presented January 20 in Council of Ministers a new scheme taking "full account of the observations of the Constitutional Council. The prime minister maintains, however, that this contribution is needed to guide the behavior of firms and households in terms of energy consumption and reduce emissions of greenhouse gas emissions. "The cabinet of Jean-Louis Borloo for its part indicated that the Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development Wednesday react to this defeat.

For its part, the Socialist Party – through its National Secretary for the Environment, Laurence Rossignol – did not expect to qualify the decision of the constitutional judges of "heavy defeat for the president. It is both the sanction of a working method that is to do everything in a hurry and a series of announcement effects. For the federation France Nature Environment (FNE), a cancellation is "catastrophic." "The carbon tax is clearly in agony.Copenhagen has shown that political will was not enough in the fight against climate change and today is the leverage that tax is lowered, "lamented spokesman FNE, Arnaud Gosse.

A measure dear to the Head of State

Wanted by Nicolas Sarkozy, the tax, renamed "carbon contribution" by the Senate, was a key measure of the proposed 2010 budget. In total, it would have resulted in 4.1 billion euros in tax revenue next year, including 2.2 billion paid by households. The Head of State himself had described as a "revolutionary tax" and a "major shift" to "lasting change" behavior of the French. The tax was aimed at encouraging individuals to reduce their CO2 emissions by applying the energy consumption of households and businesses, with compensation to individuals.For businesses, the carbon tax would replace the business tax, which was abandoned, however, been validated by the Constitutional Council.

According to calculations by INSEE, the entry into force – scheduled for 1 January – would be to effect a general price increase of 0.3% in first quarter 2010, an increase of about 4 cents per liter gasoline pump. Set at 17 euros per tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2), but she had raised important challenges left, but right where some denounced the introduction of a new tax.

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After Fitch and Standard & Poor's, Moody's has in turn lowered the debt rating of Greece on Tuesday. The bonds are so degraded by one notch from A2 to A1 with negative outlook.

"The repositioning of Greece at A2 level reflects both the very limited risk of a liquidity crisis in the short term and other credit risk in the medium and long term," Moody's justified. Indeed, "risk long term has been partially offset by the government's announcement" last week on the austerity budget.

Reviews of Moody's moderates have tended to reassure markets that apparently he had built a stronger degradation of the Greek notes. The Athens Stock Exchange returning 2.96% in early morning.The interest rate on bonds over 10 years of Greek Treasury bills were even lower, at 5.734% against 5.955%.

Following the announcement by Moody's notes on the Greek, Tuesday morning, the euro hovered around $ 1.43. "The euro is being undermined by the widening spreads (difference between interest rates, Ed) on yields of government bonds in the euro area," observed Friday in a note economists at BNP Paribas.

The difference between the interest rate applied to Greek government bonds to ten years and the German Bund, benchmark euro area widened to 250 basis points, or 2.5 percentage points, recent weeks.

Plan rigor

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, presented last week a fiscal austerity plan to leave public finances slump. The stated objective is to reduce the deficit to 4%.Greece is facing a deficit estimated for 2009 to 12.7% and a debt that represents 113% of GDP.

Moody's remains reserved about the effects of the government plan. "The long term rating of Greece will depend on how the public will accept these measures and the government's ability to implement them vigorously," the agency analysis. However, "neither of these points can not be taken for granted."

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The shock wave propagated at the speed of lightning Thursday in the Gulf as the rest of the world. The near collapse of the emirate of Dubai, obliged to ask its creditors for a moratorium of six months for two of its major companies, Dubai World and Nakheel, unable to repay the 59 billion they have borrowed, shook all financial markets.

Asian stock markets continued their decline Friday. Tokyo has fallen by more than 3.0% in closing, while Hong Kong fell by 3.45% in mid-session. Shanghai posted a decline of 1.05% in mid-session. Seoul ended a slump of 4.69%."The last thing you would see is a domino effect, alarmed investment bank EFG-Hermes, which fears the deferred payment of debts of other firms, notably in emerging countries.

Not surprisingly, the rating agencies Moody's and Standard & Poor's has downgraded six of the largest groups of Dubai, including DP World, a subsidiary of Dubai World, the company's water and electricity, and the giant of the Real Estate Emaar Properties. "Although Nakheel is not rated by Moody's, this is an important precedent for a leading company facing difficulties to pay its debts and relying on government for support, accuses the agency.

Snowball effect

The risk of a snowball effect is real.Dubai, which has more particularly on its neighbor Abu Dhabi to come to his aid, can undermine the confidence of investors in the Gulf. Investors including many Westerners are. Among the creditors of Dubai World, one finds the British banks Barclays, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, but BNP Paribas and Credit Suisse. According to the latter, the exposure of European banks, however, does not exceed 13 billion euros.

In 2008, the emirate has attracted to itself for 21 billion dollars of foreign investment. Today, these investors may be concerned not only the financial health of Dubai, but also the countries of the Federation of UAE and the entire region.

For its part, Dubai, symbol of easy money, won, lack of oil, the real estate and finance, has a huge portfolio of foreign assets.It is the largest foreign investor in Tunisia and has launched many projects in the Maghreb, although some of them have been frozen because of the crisis.

He is a shareholder in several large companies in Asia, including Sony, the United States and Russia, where he acquired a leading electricians. It also has holdings in Europe, particularly in EADS. If decided, as feared, some investors to sell off its pay its debts, the consequences could be catastrophic for the financial market confidence. And they are equally if Abu Dhabi was to withdraw from Daimler, which owns 9% to help. Closed Thursday, Wall Street will give his ruling on Friday.

"The emirate of Dubai on the brink of bankruptcy