Sundial of world news

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 word "low cost" is less and less taboo at PSA Peugeot Citroen. In early May, Philippe Varin, the boss of the manufacturer, said that the group "did not rule out being on the low-cost one day." He said: "If this were the case, it would not be with our two brands."

So far, the group said informally that such a vehicle was considered only for Asia. But on Wednesday, on the occasion of the presentation of business results of the first half, Jean-Marc Gales, director of Peugeot and Citroen, has taken a new step.It does not mark a low cost, the third group, is distributed in Western Europe, even if the device has not "yet been decided" for the continent.

Chinese Partner

"If we did, and I say this in the conditional, a car really low-cost, it would necessarily under a different brand and obviously with a different distribution method, which could be" completely different and very creative, "he said, citing sales via "Internet". No matter under him from selling such vehicle in a Peugeot or Citroen dealership, and therefore to take the risk of blurring the image of two brands that are trying to go upmarket.

Asked about the possibility of building such a vehicle with a Chinese partner, Jean-Marc Gales said "one could imagine many things" with these manufacturers credit reports free.PSA, which has already formed a joint venture in the Middle Kingdom, will sign one second Friday with Changan, fulfilling a letter of intent.

Meanwhile, the group develops a medium sedan declined under the Peugeot and Citroën, which will be for the "heart of the range" of emerging countries. Production will be initially located in Spain. In the same logic, PSA works in partnership with Japan's Mitsubishi, with a small entry level car for these markets.

At the last general meeting of the group in early June, Philippe Varin had hammered this sedan designed for emerging markets was neither low-cost, or intended to Western Europe.More broadly, he appeared to reject the principle of marketing a low-cost model in Europe: "If a low-cost means low-end model, manufactured in low cost countries and for Europe to the West, while the group is not on the low-cost, had he stressed.

Given the success of Dacia, the Romanian brand Renault, which has exceeded 5% market share in France, the Lion is now considering actually in the parade.

The EPR, the flagship of the French nuclear technology, today faces an unprecedented wave of questions. After the failure of tendering Abu Dhabi and pending report Roussely devoted to the articulation of the French industry, design, price and export capacity of this tool crystallize debates . To the point that some observers, the EPR would already hit the "syndrome Concorde: a powerful engine sure, but difficult to assemble, expensive and unmarketable credit report.

Provisions repeated Areva's Olkiluoto site have largely supported this suspicion. But, after Finland, behold, the EPR Flamanville, built by EDF, also maintains the possibility of "industrial accident".

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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Perhaps fears about the monthly employment figures expected with apprehension before market are already partly integrated into the course. The Dow Jones gained in effect to 15.45, 0.36% to 9767 points, the Nasdaq advance from 0.08% to 2103 points and the S & P 500 rose 0.24% to 1030 points.

The American economy has destroyed 125,000 non-agricultural jobs in June against 110,000 planned. This is the first time since the beginning of the year that the U.S. economy is destroying jobs and the number of registered job destruction last month was the highest since October 2009.

The private sector has created 83,000 jobs, however, against 33,000 in May and 112,000 expected by the market. Despite the job losses recorded in the month, the unemployment rate of 9.5% in June, its lowest level since July 2009, against 9.7% in May Economists expected a rate of 9.8%.

The figures, preliminary unemployment weekly published Thursday, however, very disappointed. "For three months, enrollment weekly unemployment are the yo-yo around a trend average of 462,000, economists are of Oddo Securities. The dismissal of the enumerators of the population, down sharply in June (see Chart 3 above), could affect these results, but, anyway, the job recovery seems decidedly weak. "

Europe and China in the minds

If the relatively low funding requests from European banks with the ECB reassured yesterday, the threat of a downgrading of the rate of Spain by Moody's, the clouds that accumulate on the growing global concern, however, more than never the United States.Several indicators, unemployment and housing U.S., in fact, yesterday, had a marked fall in European markets, while Wall Street has finally, paradoxically, proved to be more combative resistance payday loan lenders. The weakening of the greenback against the euro is perhaps helped. The late publication of monthly sales of car manufacturers, sharp rise, too.The sixth meeting of decline has been less severe than expected, the Dow ended down 0.42% to 9732 points and the Nasdaq fell 0.37% to 2101 points.

While the downward revision of growth prospects of China Conference Board had, following a calculation error, contributing to a decline in the markets earlier this week, China could reassure the contrary on Friday: it comes into effect to announce the revision of the growth of its gross domestic product from 2009 to 9.1% against a previous estimate of 8.7%.

Google buys ITA

As for values, Jeffrey Immelt, the head of U.S. conglomerate General Electric, has accused China to show hostility towards foreign companies, said Friday the Financial Times (FT), pushing the group to say that his comments had been distorted.The share lost 0.14% to 14.10 dollars.

The engine rechercheGoogle (-0.47% to 437.43 dollars) has announced the acquisition of ITA, a company specializing in information on air transport.

The publisher of games for iPhone Tapulous announced Thursday that he was bought by media giant Disney (+0.32% to 31.59 dollars) to become "leader in mobile entertainment." The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Sanofi-Aventis (-2.24% to 29.70 dollars) on Friday refused to comment on information from Bloomberg that the French pharmaceutical group preparing to acquire a U.S. company a value of at least 20 billion dollars. Allergan (6.88% to 62.10 dollars) and Biogen (6.70% to 49.86 dollars) are cited as potential targets

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.

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Monday, Le Monde has turned a page of his story in a calm atmosphere. Once is not custom. Upon completion of the supervisory boards of the World, offers the trio Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse ("BNP") received 11 votes. The other nine votes abstained. Employee representatives had 9 votes, and Louis Schweitzer, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, which made the difference in making its voice and that entrusted to him by Claude Perdriel, boss Le Nouvel Observateur and unsuccessful candidate for the resumption of the World.Louis Schweitzer has done everything to ensure that The World is lost in a new crisis between the employees and field representatives (Lagardère and Prisa, La Stampa, Pierre Lescure, Jean-Louis Beffa …).

Over the weekend, in the daily columns, he emphasized the seriousness of the financial situation and warned: "I hope there will be convergence." At the end of the supervisory board, Gilles Van Kote The president of the Society of Editors (RS) welcomed "the gesture of a great lord of Claude Perdriel, which withdrew its offer and voted for its competitors. On Monday morning, Claude Perdriel and Orange announced they were withdrawing their offer, drawing the lesson of the plebiscite of employees of the World for the trio "BNP".Into effect on Friday, the different societies of staff (Le Monde, Le Monde Interactif, Telerama, Courrier International, employees, managers …) have spoken overwhelmingly (between 80 and 91%% for the Society of Editors of World) for the trio Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse. After the vote, will open exclusive talks with the trio BNP. Beforehand, prospective buyers are, as they had committed 10 million euro move before July 5 to cross to Le Monde's financial deadlines July 10 and have enough money to take all summer ."Then, in late July or early September a new supervisory board will endorse the negotiations and the deal should be finalized in late September or early October," said Gilles Van Kote.

Negotiations with Lagardère and Prisa

In total, Pierre Berge, Xavier Niel and Matthew Pigasse provide 110 million euros. Therefore, they will control 64.65% of capital. For the first time in the history of the world, workers will abandon the majority stake and control group. The trio "BNP" had taken the measure of the importance of this decision. That is why he insisted on preserving the editorial independence of publications group. Better, it should make a gesture in their favor.Pierre Berge has promised to create a foundation with 10 million euros destined to gradually increase the share of employees to 33%.

With other shareholders, Lagardère and Prisa, also diluted, dialogue should engage. Following the recapitalization, Lagardere will have only 5.86% of capital, and Prisa 5.1%. Lagardère cons grin and heart. In the vote, he refrained. "This is a position consistent with what we've always said. We did not oppose the rescue of the World while taking care to safeguard our interests, "responded Khiroun Ramzy, the group's spokesman. However, Lagardere clearly leaning in favor of the trio Perdriel, Prisa, Orange, with whom he had begun negotiations for the acquisition of its stake in the holding company and Le Monde Interactif. In total, he was to receive nearly 40 million euros. The trio "BNP", everything remains to be done."The investors must now specify their intentions. Everything depends on the proposals they will make us, "adds the group. However, the trio "BNP" remained unclear. If he says he must "return to the activity in the digital world", it does not specify the amount he is prepared to pay to redeem the 34% of Lagardère in Le Monde Interactif.

The other loser is the media giant Prisa Spanish. The group led by Juan Luis Cebrian came late in the battle alongside Claude Perdriel and Orange. He has to defend its interests in the holding head. But his stance in favor of an issue of the daily morning have undermined his bid.

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In the battle over economic strategy, which raged in the country G8/G20 meeting in Toronto, Nicolas Sarkozy ranks clearly on the side of Barack Obama's hostile plans rigor precipitates. "For France, fiscal consolidation is a long-term need [...] the stimulus must be from 2011, gradually, depending on individual circumstances," said one EU source.

Favorable cures severe austerity in Greece, Portugal and Spain, Nicolas Sarkozy calls for budget adjustments "progressive" in France and Germany, from 2011, with "not too many taxes."

The fragile economic and financial worries Europe G8 and G20. "Our partners Americans and Canadians fear the impact of austerity plans on resuming" said one EU source.The health of banks on the Old Continent is also a major concern in the United States. "There's nothing to fear from that quarter. Our banks are very strong. The results of stress test in late July is going to cheer the markets, "say the Europeans.

Faced with the Americans, Germans and Britons facing the G8 steadfast defenders of rigor. "A sustainable growth can not result from a fiscal policy based on the debt!" Repeats Angela Merkel. "Our public finances are in such a state, we have no other choice than a hard adjustment," he defends David Cameron.

Within this debate, Nicolas Sarkozy wants to distinguish itself from its European partners. Recognizing the need to reduce fiscal deficits in France, he will not rush, giving priority to pension reform.If markets were not so vigilant, he would gladly own the warning of Barack Obama: "do not overdo it in 2010 … or 2011.

lefigaro.fr / jdf.com – After having doubted the ability of countries to cope with budget deficits, the markets are concerned now plans rigorously implemented by European states. Are they become schizophrenic?

Eric Bleine – I do not know if we can speak of schizophrenia, but I find the reactions of financial markets is excessive. This is not surprising when one considers that most large companies in the CAC 40 are majority owned by U.S. pension funds, and increasingly by players from emerging markets. If individuals are continuing to ignore the actions, it will increase, and financial markets continue to be volatile. In this context, I advise investors to focus on their process of investment. In other words, to believe in what they do and do not move during moments of extreme doubt.It is when the visibility is poor economy and financial and prices of listed assets are low it takes to earn money. The doubts the current market is understandable but exaggerated. He should know how to take them by buying now, taking as a necessary condition to have investment horizons reasonable (between 18 months and 3 years) does not get into the position of having to liquidate its portfolio under stress specific personal.

European equities are they really excluded?

Financial markets have still not integrated as European companies are financially sound, well managed despite the crisis and they have high margins and refinanced debt. The euro zone is not in a situation so bad as that.The proof that more than European ones, are also international companies which derive a substantial part of its sales in the U.S. or in emerging countries. If fears about the euro area are so important is because pension funds are selling their fears, "the fear". What explains this high volatility. But I guess they will stop selling because valuation levels as low and reassuring news that we are beginning to have on the sustainability of our currency, the euro.

How do you manage the allocation of your portfolio between defensive stocks and cyclical stocks?

Overall, I'm quite recently strengthened financial securities in defensive stocks. I have preferences for certain banking stocks and am overweight, representing 18% of portfolio value Central.Despite the pressure around these companies, the current prices seem particularly attractive and excessive criticism. We focus on the big European banks such as BNP Paribas, Santander, Intesa, UniCredit, Deutsche Bank or Barclays. They are strong and come out winners in my opinion this crisis, the market does not take into account.

It is a rather surprising position in the current context. Other atypical cyclical stocks?

Yes, because we are also overweighted car values (5.32% of portfolio) as DaimlerChrysler, Faurecia and Michelin. For example, Michelin will benefit from new standards that will enable tire manufacturers to sell products with high added values.Furthermore, we focus Faurecia, because we believe that Faurecia has good chances of success in China by supporting the rise of automobile manufacturers in emerging countries

I'm also positive and closer to consensus on technology stocks (11.55% of portfolio) invested with Atos, Steria, STMicroelectronics. There is a real demand for computer services and technology assets. Finally, I like also valued as Lufthansa is one of the few aerospace companies to have limited its losses in 2008 and which we believe will be winners of an industry concentration. However, although it benefits from the dollar, we excluded EADS for which we still have some reservations.

A second half what should we expect?

We look forward to a calmer second half versus the first.We're going out of concerns about the sustainability of the euro area and the ability of states to refinance. The fears will gradually dissipate and the risk premium with them. This should drive us as a first step to a CAC 40-3800 points. Then the market should realize that the growth of European countries will not be as catastrophe we would suggest. This gives a potential ACC 40-4000 points, why not towards the end of the year. With the portfolio that I currently constituted, I am ready for the increase in ACC 40.

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.