Sundial of world news

How do you explain the economic slowdown in recent months and the downward revisions to growth prospects?

More than a brake unexpectedly in the economy, we see a reversal of perception. The latter is even more brutal than the general opinion was, in my view, tainted with excessive optimism. Then it is difficult to know what, the political farce about debt in Washington, the loss of the AAA American or poor statistics justified the change of outlook on the economy.

The publication of poor growth in the second quarter in the U.S. and the downward revision of the statistics of activity since 2008, have changed the vision of recovery.We start from lower than initial estimates, and we go up the slope much more slowly than expected.

We also witnessed a particularly brutal realization that the inflationary between autumn 2010 and spring 2011 was a major blow to the head of consumers. With a depressed job market and debt strategy, it was not much more to demand falters significantly.

Do you believe in a scenario back in recession?

The situation is much more fragile than earlier this year. The risk of a recession back to a horizon of six months has increased considerably paydayloans. In my view, two scenarios-slow growth or recession-are as likely to occur. The first scenario would lead to growth of only 2% in the U.S. and 1% in Europe, below the trend in previous upturns.The fault mainly mass unemployment. As for the recession, it could happen if everyone is convinced it is inevitable. Given the current environment, the market may in fact remain in panic mode, accumulating indiscriminate bad news one after the other.

Some economists raise the specter of the 2008 crisis …

In response to the bankruptcy of Lehmann, banks no longer wanted to lend to each other, freezing, and the global economy for six months. We're not there. Of course, we see signs of stress in the interbank market, but they have nothing to do with the situation three years ago. At the time, the Fed has provided up to $ 600 billion to other central banks to provide liquidity in dollars. Currently, the hotline is used up to 200 million.

In a recession, states will they try to revive the economy?

Western countries have largely emptied their cartridge: operating margins are much narrower. Any potential action, if it increases the debt carries with it much more likely than before.

This time, the Fininvest will have to pay. The court sentenced him on Saturday appealed the group owned by Silvio Berlusconi to pay 560 million euros in the CIR group, owned by Carlo de Benedetti. The judges of the Court of Appeal of Milan have found that control of the publisher Mondadori, obtained in 1991 by Fininvest, to the detriment of the EIF through a favorable court decision, was made possible by the corruption of judge and lawyers involved. In 2007, the Criminal Justice had issued a similar notice, including the judge sentenced Vottorio Metta was stationed in nearly three years in prison.

On appeal, the Milan judges, however, reduced the magnitude of the financial penalty, determined in the first instance to 750 million euros.Unlike 2007, the decision will also be immediately enforceable: Fininvest will address 560 million euros in damages without waiting for the trial to the Supreme Court that the group should seek. "Our lawyers are already beginning to study the complaint," has indeed responded Marina Berlusconi, the eldest daughter of the Head of Government and president of Fininvest. This assesses the amount of the penalty "to double the participation of Fininvest in Mondadori."

Electoral setback and legal troubles

The Cavaliere had nevertheless worked hard to save the payment of such penalty to the group. Approaching the verdict, he did not hesitate to try to vote by Parliament an amendment to the Civil Code suspending sanctions in excess of 20 million euros on appeal, until the final decision of the court of Cassation.A measure to be adopted in the Bill ratifying the austerity plan. Faced with the outcry in the opinion of this measure, the Cavaliere has this week backed down.

This decision is more bad news for the chairman, who combines political defeats in recent months and legal troubles. Also implicated in the "Rubygate" Silvio Berlusconi suffered a severe mid-June electoral setback. The Italians have indeed overwhelmingly (over 94%) rejected four bills proposed by his government and put to a referendum: one devoted to the construction of new nuclear power stations, one on the privatization of water management by municipalities, and two providing legal immunity of ministers and the chairman of the board. Silvio Berlusconi, who announced Friday he would not stand in 2013, probably did not finish with the law.

Here are the planned changes on 1 July 2011.

• Retirement

The law on pension reform, enacted November 10, 2010 after a long parliamentary battle will come into effect on Friday. The legal age will gradually increase from 60 to 62, with four more months per year. The first people affected are those born after 1 July 1951.The age of the full rate – that is to say that from which an employee receives a full pension even though he has not contributed enough quarter (165 quarters forward) – is raised gradually from 65 to 67 between 2016 to 2023.

By persons possessing a degree of permanent disability of at least 20% and, after notice of a multidisciplinary committee, those possessing a degree of permanent disability between 10 and 20% are still able to go to 60 years.

• SMIC

The minimum wage was last adjusted on 1 January will not be automatically upgraded in July. The rise in prices which reached 2% since last revaluation of the minimum wage – could lead to an increase in August the minimum wage indexed to inflation.Prime Minister François Fillon has also been clarified that no additional boost would be granted.

• Unemployment benefits

Unemployment benefits will be revalued by 1.5% from 1 July, decided Thursday Unédic or at a rate lower price developments and the minimum wage increase of 1.6% occurred at the beginning of years. "The debate was very long to the Board of UNEDIC" consisting of representatives of employers and employee organizations, which manage all unemployment insurance, said the president of UNEDIC, Gaby Bonnand at a press conference.

• Transport

– SNCF: the prices of train tickets will increase by an average of 2.5%. This increase will, as every year, uneven tickets. It will range from 10 cents to 2.70 euros by destination.The price discount cards remains unchanged.

– RATP Navigo Pass packages will increase by 2.7%, except for Zone 5. Zone 6 is removed and merged with the 5, which will mechanically decrease by 11% the price paid by its users, reduced from 123.60 to 109.90 euros for a monthly fee. In detail: the monthly zone 1 and 2 increased from 60.40 euros to 62 euros (+2.6%). That of zones 1 to 3 passes to 80.30 euros (+2.7%), and that of zones 1 to 4 to 98.10 euros (+2.7%). The single ticket remains unchanged at 1.70 euro.

The bus fare increases to 1.90 euro (+5.5%), while the book of 10 tickets will increase to 12.5 euros (+4.2%).

• Energy

– Electricity: Household bill increases of 2.9%.The industries and large companies take 4.4 to 4.9% according to the rate at which they are submitted.

– Gas: gas rates for individuals do not change, but those businesses increased by 3.2%.

• E

La Poste has announced that the price of postage for mailings of letters under 20 grams would rise by two cents, from 0.58 to 0.60 cents.

• Mobile Phone

The price of mobile communications passed from another European country down. It will now cost 42 cents per minute against 47 before. Subscribers operators in metropolitan departments and overseas subscribers Dom operators in mainland France also benefit from lower rates.

• Environment

A thousand everyday products will be subject to an experimental display decided at the Grenelle Environment Forum.Packaging will be accompanied by a statement indicating their carbon footprint and their impact on biodiversity, water, etc..

• Bank

A summary of bank charges (basket of services, payment systems, operational occurrences, agios) will now be on the monthly bank statements, which also display the ceiling of the overdraft.

• Pets

The electronic chip designed to identify the pet becomes mandatory for all animals that will travel outside French territory.

(With agencies)

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With one of the highest birth rate in the European Union, the French threw every year a million diapers that end up buried or incinerated. Further pollution to which a pilot project, called "Happy Nappy" ("happy coat" in English), seeks to end. Conducted by SITA, a subsidiary of Suez Environnement, the program has evaluated the recyclability of liners for babies and adults. Conclusion: they can be recycled to 90%.

This program of 340,000 euros, 40% funded by the Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME), spread over more than two years. After grinding the layers and their separate components, the program evaluated the energy recovery potential of each subject.Based on the work of the team, which make up plastics from 10 to 20% of the layers are recyclable, as are the fibers (10-20%) and feces and urine (50-70%). Only superabsorbent polymers (5-10%) remain unresolved recycling. Upon arrival, a "triple value" with energy production, compost and recycled materials. Research is being conducted in other countries but "the idea of ​​the triple value is unique," says Laurent Galtier, project manager.

Final stage of the program: a solution to the residual organic matter from anaerobic digestion: they could be valued in agriculture. "It remains to perform tests on the agricultural sector in line with the Ecole Nationale Superieure Agronomique de Toulouse (ENSAT)," says Laurent Galtier.

"In a nursery, the act of sorting is done"

How to collect, then the used diapers? "Initially, we are interested in nurseries and nursing homes," said Laurent Galtier who visited both types of institutions and who claims to have met an "immediate acceptance" of his project. "In the nursery, the act of sorting is done," says he: the babies are, in fact, changed in the same place and layer thrown into the same bin.

The recycling plant layers could settle near a water treatment plant, to use the treated water discharged by the station and to enjoy the digester already present. "These are two very important points of synergy that could cause the project's success," said Laurent Galtier.

Concerned, diaper manufacturers have contacted the team.According to Laurent Galtier, a possible collaboration could include the development of plastic components and superabsorbent polymers. They "could be a future pilot project," says Laurent Galtier elsewhere.

The economic viability of the project "Happy Nappy" will be evaluated by the end of the year. Its director, however, provides that there is "no industrial process before 2013 at best."

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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.

The dominant expectations Wall Street on Wednesday. The Dow Jones lost 0.35% to 12,525.82 points, the Nasdaq yield 0.20% to 2829.60 points and the S & P 500 was down 0.29% to 1341.32 points.

Tuesday, as all global markets, the U.S. stock market had closed on a sharp rise, the Dow Jones climbed 1.03% and the Nasdaq by 1.37%. Investors, who were returning from a long weekend, had welcomed with relief the press releases stating that Germany would give up a debt restructuring of Greece.

On Wednesday, the new no longer effect. As in Europe and Asia, caution is back on the market, supported by a series of disappointing indicators from China and the euro area. China's PMI purchasing managers of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) fell to 52 last month, against 52.9 in April.In the euro area, this indicator stood at 54.6 in May, after a flash estimate of 54.8, against 58 in April. Is the lowest since October.

United States, the employment figures in the private sector show an increase of only 38,000 in May, according to the firm ADP, while analysts were betting on 170,000 net hires.

Investors across the Atlantic will also learn construction costs.

Side currency, the euro rose slightly against the U.S. dollar at 1.4421 dollars (+0.18%) in the early afternoon in Paris.For its part, oil recedes, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery yielding 0.53% to 102.16 dollars short term personal loans.

Yahoo!: -1.39% to 16.32 dollars

Yahoo has resolved its dispute with Alibaba Group in connection with the transfer by the Chinese company's online payment system, Alipay, its chief executive Jack Ma said on source familiar with the matter. The two companies reached an agreement before the meeting with analysts from Yahoo last Wednesday. But the agreement requires the green light from the founder of Softbank, Masayoshi Son, who sits on the board of directors of Alibaba. He was quite reluctant, says one. Japanese Softbank is a shareholder of Alibaba and Yahoo Japan.

Google: 0.46% to 531.44 dollars

Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman and former CEO of Google, said Tuesday night had "planted" on social networks four years ago.He takes the responsibility for the error that allowed Facebook to be the undisputed leader in the category.

Phillips-Van Heusen: 1.39% to 66.89 dollars

Phillips-Van Heusen for its part, announced a net profit of $ 58 million (79 cents per share) in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, against $ 28 million loss (53 cents per share) a year before. The turnover was doubled to 1.37 billion against $ 619 million a year earlier. The group is therefore the goal of annual earnings per share to range between 4.80 and $ 5 per title.

Dollar General: -8.58% to 32.06 dollars

Still on publications, Dollar General will issue its first quarter revenues.

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 growth of the Chinese economy has been stronger than expected between January and March with a gross domestic product (GDP) up 9.7% over the same period last year.

Prices rose 5.4% in the first quarter in China, according to figures released this morning by the National Bureau of Statistics. It is still well above the government target to contain inflation below 4% throughout the year. The central government has stated repeatedly that the price increase is its first priority, recognizing that it could fuel social discontent. Investments in fixed assets have also increased by 25%.

The tightening of Chinese monetary policy does not yet appear to bear fruit.Yesterday, Beijing announced that its foreign exchange reserves had reached 3000 billion, indicating an influx of capital into China, which highlights the inflationary pressure on the country.

The day before, Fan Jianping, an economist with the State Information Center, a think tank close to the Chinese central government, said two new rotations rely on interest rates for the second quarter. Many analysts expected, moreover, is the required reserve ratios of banks after the publication of figures this morning.

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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.

The drama of the Central Committee (IAC) of Air France continues. The institution which oversees 7 of 8 committees of institutions (EC) of the airline will have to find € 20.5 million to continue its operations in 2011 after having had need 15 million additional to survive 2010. The report of the representative ad hoc court in Bobigny, called the end of 2010 at the head of CEC gives an overview of a situation of near bankruptcy for several months, however, contradicted by the unions in charge of EAC. According to this document, including Le Figaro has obtained a copy, the institution has escaped bankruptcy in 2010 with Air France and its banks. "It is indisputable that the financing requirements of about 15 million euros have been covered with the help of Air France and three banks," he says so.

The first bailout was not enough, however, since the CEC will again have to find additional funds to avoid bankruptcy in 2011. The report indicates that "it remains necessary to negotiate with the banks of the EAC with a credit line to finance the needs of 2011, estimated between 11.3 and 14.5 million euros", "to amount must be added an estimated $ 6 million necessary for the replenishment of working capital, "so it's a total realizable assets of at least 20.5 million euros that will be reached.

Transfer of part of the heritage

To exit the institution of the rut, the report recommends a voluntary separation plan and the sale of part of the heritage valued at 121 million euros. According to our information, the site of Gassin on the Riviera could be sold quickly."Its ideal location, a few kilometers from Saint-Tropez, should enable us to draw a substantial amount," said a steward of the company fast payday loans. The report also calls for structural reforms and pointed out that subsidies to Air France (42 million euros per year) are "used up to 41%, the balance being used for the operation of the EAC." It is necessary "that the CEC is refocusing on its purpose, concludes the document to officials from Air France on holiday and not paying overhead." For the CEC to continue these activities, her office has requested "a liquidity facility" – ie an overdraft – 10 million euros of trade unions met in session on Thursday night. He lost his application. "It's a terrible muddle," says one shop steward. The grant of the first half has already been swallowed.We are awaiting the completion of workplace elections and the appointment of a new office to start from scratch. "

CCE Air France has been the subject of an audit in 2009 that criticized its management and in particular "purpose personal expenses" of its leaders. He then underwent an investigation by the financial police who was interested in possible wrongdoing. Nothing has been proved. In September, the auditor who wrote a "warning report. Despite this progressive decline in the bankruptcy, unions still deny any situation of insolvency. In a press release issued Thursday, the office of the CEC is pleased to have maintained "a CCE in working order and have laid the foundation for its reconstruction." And conclude that "the CEC has survived the turmoil of 2010 and continues to function."

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