Sundial of world news

The lake has almost caught fire Thursday in Zurich. The traditional meeting of the shareholders of UBS has turned into a quiet but determined fight. The shareholders of the largest financial institution Swiss have strongly criticized the remuneration policy of the group, before voting 36% against it.

Lengthy explanations of President Kaspar Villiger have done anything to calm the discontented. The welcome bonus of 2 million Swiss francs (1.66 million), booked his designated successor, former Bundesbank President Axel Weber, was singled out. After the trading loss of $ 2.2 billion last fall, bonuses for market operators and their representatives also shocked. The vote is only advisory, but Kaspar Villiger was assured that the bank "takes this result seriously."

Executive Officer of UBS expected to live a difficult meeting. After four years of crisis, which results in the lowest equity valuations, bank shareholders, the U.S. and Europe are growing impatient. Everywhere, the remuneration is in sight. And for the first time, the challenge of these salaries and bonuses to seven figures than the man in the street. Driven by consulting firms or foundations, as Ethos and Actares Switzerland, institutional shareholders, insurers and large pension funds amounted to turn the tone against these huge salaries.

Last week, Credit Suisse, 31.6% of shareholders voted against the plan and executive compensation. Only 23% opposed it a year earlier. Meanwhile, the wage paid to Brady Dougan, the chief American institution, had been halved, 5.8 million Swiss francs (4.8 million) in 2011 against 12.8 million a year earlier. Over the same period, the share value has fallen by 41%. The same day, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, Barclays faced a protest vote by 26.9%, still on the part of remuneration guaranteed pay day loans.

Opposition all the more remarkable that management hoped to have cleared the situation by announcing a week before the general meeting that the executive directors and financial, Bob Diamond and Chris Lucas, would submit half of their 2011 bonuses to performance targets . Originally, Bob Diamond would receive 17.7 million pounds (nearly 22 million euros). The bank chairman, Marcus Agius, has "apologized (to shareholders) and promised that we will move differently in the future."

No vote in France

At the Citigroup, the reaction was even more severe: 55% of shareholders refused to pay $ 15 million promised to the Director, Vikram Pandit, after two years paid a salary by a dollar. This vote was, once again, not binding, the subjects of remuneration remain the prerogative of the board. But the impact in terms of image is of course considerable. Executive Officer of Citigroup has promised to "take seriously the shareholder vote and to consider carefully their remarks."

These votes on compensation plans have gradually imposed from Britain to all OECD countries. Only France is still resistance. "While employers have everything to gain by legitimizing their remuneration, French companies are now the only ones in Europe not to submit payments of their leaders to a general vote of the shareholders," said Pierre-Henri Leroy and President Proxinvest, the French agency governance analysis. The subject was asked in the presidential campaign. Nicolas Sarkozy has declared in favor of a shareholder vote on pay. Francois Hollande has not explicitly expressed on the subject.

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At a time when many companies are trying to renegotiate the pricing terms of their gas supplies, this is a decision that will make noise: Tuesday, the supervising judge of the Commercial Court of Valenciennes has decided to terminate the contract of long-term supply that united the power plant Poweo Pont-sur-Sambre (North) to Italian energy giant ENI.

March 12, the production plant, now owned by the Austrian Verbund electrician, had been placed under safeguard procedure. Reason: it loses about one million euros per week. Three days later, on March 15, the receiver can catch the commercial court by an application to terminate. There is indeed a difference of nearly 40% between the market price of gas and those supply contracts in the long term, indexed to oil prices – which soared for several weeks. What makes the situation untenable for the Pont-sur-Sambre.

A canceled contract

In fact, the judge may decide the termination under two conditions: firstly, this option is necessary to safeguard the debtor on the other hand, the termination shall not affect significantly the activity of the contractor, in ENI case. The Commercial Court of Valenciennes finally concluded that these two conditions were met, indicating that the supply of Poweo Pont-sur-Sambre – to the tune of 150 million euros per year – accounted for only 0 guaranteed fast personal loans.13% of net Business ENI.

After this decision, the Transalpine oil has several ways to try to counteract it: application for annulment with the commercial court, appeal to the court of appeal, cassation … All these procedures require weeks or months. Meanwhile, the Commercial Court's decision is not suspended and the contract between Poweo Pont-sur-Sambre and ENI is actually terminated.

Whatever the intensity of this battle, it will give ideas to large consumers of gas. They now know that they are likely to be heard before the commercial court if their incumbent supplier does not agree a discount to the extent of the plunge in gas prices. Since the development of shale gas in the U.S. (now exporting) in particular, the economy of this energy has completely returned with an offer suddenly extremely abundant.

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"A French power plant threatened with bankruptcy

The egg becomes a scarce commodity. Since the entry into force on 1 January of a European directive amending the conditions for laying hens, egg production in France fell 18% in mid-March, after falling 10% in 2011 . "About 5% of farmers have failed to comply with standards on time and no longer have the right to produce," says the National Committee for the Promotion of the egg (CNPO). At the abeyance of some poultry houses, plus the time needed for hens, very prone to stress, to adapt to their new environment and get back to spawn, the producers note. Other countries are affected, such as Spain, Italy, Germany or the UK. In total, Europe suffers from a deficit of 200 million eggs a week.

Faced with this shortage, manufacturers of biscuits, cakes and pasta are worried. They are now buying their eggs at prices 66 to 100% higher than a year ago. "Supply is a real problem," said Romain Nouffert, Managing Director of Lesieur, the French number one edible oil, which provides an increase of 5 to 6% of the price of mayonnaise. A fear shared by Philippe Godard, responsible for the development of the Business Federation of French baking and pastry (FEBPF). "The proportion of eggs in the total composition of revenues may represent 15 to 30% of the total, depending on the product," he says. "The cost may no longer be acceptable or even tolerable, if the rise continues, especially as it adds to the high price of durum wheat," is alarmed, for his part, Christine Petit, Secretary General Union of Industrial Pasta Manufacturers of France (SIFPAF), who represents Lustucru Pastacorp.  

Denouncing "the inertia of the European authorities," the industry is calling for urgent action, particularly for the import of egg products. "If the situation continues, some companies at risk of bankruptcy in four to six months," warns the FEBPF and SIFPAF, associated with the manufacturers of Biscuits and Cakes France, the Union of Bakery crispy and chewy and the Association of food companies developed (ADEPALE) poor credit personal loans. This sector includes more than 104,000 direct jobs in France for a turnover exceeding € 18.3 billion.

The French could pay the bill

The equation is further complicated for manufacturers that they can not pass on the soaring prices of the egg on the shelves, being bound by contracts with the annual distribution. "When you know that 90% of cookies are sold in supermarkets and hypermarkets, we measure the challenges of this situation," says Philippe Godard. Distribution, however, considers that this crisis is temporary. "Our goal is to preserve the purchasing power of consumers and ultimately for the entire industry, sales volumes of these products in store," says Mathieu Pecqueur, agriculture and quality director of the Federation of Commercial and distribution (FCD). "Manufacturers have certainly been integrated into the negotiations completed in late February the rising cost of egg production, we see that since the end of 2011," he adds. From last year, in fact, farmers were already experiencing an increase in wheat and corn used to feed chickens.

One day or another, however, the French should bear the brunt of this crisis of the egg. "The impact on the labels will, in theory, since the momentary during the egg will soon recede," said Charles Pernin, head of nutrition and health issues at the consumer organization CLCV. "Unfortunately, the shelf prices rarely return to normal," he adds. Ultimately, the French can always follow the latest fashion: invest in a hen to produce their own eggs and thus continue to make cakes.

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LE FIGARO. – Must restart nuclear power plants in Japan?

Nobuo Tanaka. – Yes, as soon as possible. Iran represents a huge potential risk. Over 80% of our oil imports and 20% of our gas imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. We have 170 days of oil stocks, only 20 days for gas. Iranian attack risk is much higher than that of a large tsunami! If we do jumpstart by plants, it could be missed 10% of electricity this summer.

How much would it cost to Japan to do without nuclear power?

At current oil prices, just to replace the current nuclear by fossil fuels, it would cost 3 trillion yen per year (28 billion euros, Ed).

To diversify your natural gas supplies, the construction of an undersea pipeline bringing Russian gas via the neighboring island of Sakhalin is feasible?

Just as the German decision to import Soviet gas in the 1970s improved the Germano-Russian relationship, build a pipeline could help solve the diplomatic dispute that pits Japan against Russia over the Kuril Islands. Russia's interest to diversify its customers in the Far East. Japan could also operate its own gas: methane hydrates on the ocean floor mats are a great potential, especially if oil prices continue to rise much.

How to develop renewable energy in Japan, which are still marginal?

I see no future for the solar wind, in Japan. The government will introduce a feed-in tariff incentive. This is necessary but not sufficient. To complement the intermittent energy, it takes gas or geothermal energy, and a soft market. There is also great potential in marine energy.

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A first for thirty years! The U.S. utility Southern Company said Thursday it would launch the construction of two new nuclear reactors at the site of the Vogtle plant in Georgia. The U.S. nuclear watchdog, the NRC has in fact given the green light, the final stage of an administrative process that began in 2005. The award of this license comes eleven months after the nuclear disaster at Fukushima and at a time when, in the opinion of most American experts, the historically low gas prices in the U.S., thanks to the abundance of gas shale, makes uncertain the profitability of the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant. Thomas Fanning, CEO of Southern Company, hopes the two new reactors of 1,100 megawatts each will respectively be operational in 2016 and 2017. They feed one million homes. The project represents an investment of $ 14 billion (10 paperless payday loans.6 billion euros).

Southern chose the long AP1000 designed by the American Westinghouse, now controlled by the Japanese giant Toshiba. If the last U.S. nuclear power plants came online in 1996, the NRC had not awarded a license since 1978, the year before the accident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, where a nuclear reactor had partially melted, causing no victims. Announced the revival of nuclear power in the 2000s has been slowed due to a combination of the accident at Fukushima in 2011 and the spectacular development of shale gas that made the United States, in the space of three years , an exporter of natural gas.

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The fall of a six-story elevator building in a housing project in Paris on October 27, revived the debate on the safety of these facilities. Work had been made last month on this lift-de-registered by the company Schindler Somatem, responsible for maintenance. Tenants of the building where the accident occurred will file a complaint against Paris-Habitat, owner, announced their partnership "Tenants angry." The social landlord, he has filed a complaint against X. An investigation is underway to determine if it was a defective part of the manufacturer or poor maintenance. Contacted by The Figaro.fr Schindler declined to comment.

France has 520,000 elevators, accessible to 482,500 people. National Park is the most dilapidated of Europe, half of the devices with more than 25 years and a quarter over 40 years, according to the Federation of elevators no fax needed payday loans.Now, nearly 100 million people use every day a lift. Following a series of serious accidents in 2003, Gilles de Robien, Minister of Works, Transport and Housing, has passed the law "safety of existing lifts" (SAE). State of play:

• High bill for owners

This text imposed new obligations on security, maintenance and technical inspection of elevators. A three-stage timetable was established for this compliance, depending on the severity of identified risks, with maturities in 2010, 2013 and 2018. "At 31 December 2010, the first term, 10-15% of the work was not done," notes Jean-Luc Detavernier, managing director of the Federation of elevators, which includes more than 110 companies (90% of sector).

While central bankers of the euro zone must meet this weekend to try to establish the foundation that will emerge from the crisis, Standard & Poor's already considering the worst. The rating agency has in fact simulated for several European countries, a "worst case scenario" based on a relapse into recession. If such an economic downturn were to occur, what the IMF is already considering, then the rating agency's estimation, several notes of sovereign debt could then be degraded, including that of France. She stresses, however, that "no degradation or put under surveillance of AAA French is considered for the moment."

Accuracy that allows Standard & Poor's to stand out from its counterpart Moody's, which launched a few days ago warning of a possible future revision of his opinion of the French debt.Fitch has also distanced itself from Moody's, ensuring that it does not intend to degrade the rating of France.

Without growth, no AAA rating for France

S & P has built these "stress tests" on sovereign debt from two batteries of different assumptions. In the first scenario, it assessed the impact of a relapse into recession. In this case, France could see its rating downgraded from AAA to AA +, because of lower tax revenues.

In the second scenario, which provides a relapse into recession coupled with a shock on interest rates, then the note of the French sovereign debt could be lowered by two notches.The notes of banking groups could also be revised.

"The soaring deficits and the recapitalization of banks will weigh heavily on the indebtedness of countries in the euro area," said the head of credit analysis in Paris, adding that "the credit quality of the countries in the euro area will thus be deeply damaged. " The rating agency also said it will adjust its ratings depending on the extent of the downturn on the Old Continent.

For now, the assumption of a recession in the countries of the euro area is not the scenario preferred by S & P, which focuses on growth of between 1% and 1.5% on average for 2012. This is not the case of Fitch."The intensification of the crisis in Italy, Spain and other countries in the euro area under pressure, is expected to generate a recession," says David Riley, head of credit ratings of sovereign debt at Fitch.

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Future on major indices of the New York Stock Exchange indicate a slightly higher opening of U.S. markets on Wednesday. Like the European markets, Wall Street should not resist the Slovak Parliament on strengthening the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF). Tuesday, after four sessions of strong gains in a row, Wall Street ended in a disorganized. Investors chose to garner a share of profits.

On the front of the debt crisis in the eurozone, Slovakia, a second vote could be held with the support of the left opposition. "It's not good news but I trust the authorities of Slovakia to hold a second vote," said Wednesday morning the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Alain Juppé on radio France Info.For its part German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that strengthening the EFSF be ratified "in October." The Slovak Parliament was the last to vote on the strengthening of the European relief fund. Indeed, the unanimity of the country is essential to confirm the agreement reached by the Heads of State on July 21 dernier.Berlin and Paris commitments marchésLes reassure the weekend by Germany and France had restored a little hope of financial markets. Last Sunday, Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel have in fact committed to respond "lasting and comprehensive peace" to the crisis in the euro area for the G20 summit in Cannes, 3 and 4 November. About the difficulties of the European banking sector, the two leaders said they were "determined to do whatever it takes to ensure the recapitalization of our banks."But again, the "details" to be specified later, and the EU summit scheduled for October 17 and 18 was postponed to October 23. After several missed appointments with the financial markets, Europe hopes this time strike a blow to stop the contagion of the crisis in the euro area.

The euro will always be a "hard currency", has also assured Angela Merkel, following Slovakia's rejection of strengthening financial relief funds in the euro area. On the foreign exchange market, the euro was virtually unchanged munching 0.05% against the greenback at 1.3658 dollars.

Alcoa opens the ball quarterly results

In the U.S., the season of quarterly results of large companies began Tuesday after the close of Wall Street. As usual, the aluminum giant Alcoa kicked-off for these publications.Including follow on Wednesday, PepsiCo, and Thursday, JPMorgan Chase and Google internet group and finally, Friday, Mattel. Analysts bet on an average increase of 13% earnings per share for the third quarter.

The group Alcoa reported, after market, a net quarterly profit of $ 172 million, an increase of 182% over a year and a decrease of 47% over the previous quarter. Revenues jumped 21% year on year to 6.4 billion. In 2011, Alcoa still expects growth of 12%.

For his part Infosys Technologies also announced after the market have achieved in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011-2012 (ending September 30) a net profit of 411 million dollars against 374 million last year while sales rose to 1.75 billion dollars against 1.5 billion a year earlier.For the full fiscal year 2011/12, the group expects a turnover of 7.08 to 7.2 billion dollars.

The Canadian Research In Motion listed on Wall Street, affected by major failures affecting the Blackberry, is facing a revolt by disgruntled shareholders calling for the sale or replacement of its executives while its action has already lost 60% since the beginning of the year.

For its part the world leader in lithography for semiconductor, ASML also listed on Wall Street believes that there will be a slowdown in growth in most segments of the semiconductor, with the exception of technologies related to tablets and smartphones. At the Amsterdam Stock Exchange gained 2.7% action to 27.25 euros in the morning.

The Paris Bourse finally returns to the threshold of 3000 points. On Thursday, the CAC 40 closed up on 3.27% to 3045.62 points. Other European markets follow the same path: Milan ended up 3.56%, 2.11% from London, Frankfurt and Madrid from 3.15% to 3.63%. Wall Street was also in the green fence at the time in Europe.

Investors seem reassured by the willingness of European leaders to develop concrete actions to leave the eurozone its difficulties. Among them is the establishment of an agreement in principle to toughen the Stability Pact and fiscal discipline common in the EU, which provides for sanctions for countries that would leave too lax spinning their deficits. Another reassuring element: the willingness of German and French leaders to avoid an out of Greece in the euro area and the Greek government's determination to break the budget impasse.

Brazil and Russia have also said they were considering a support action. While international solidarity is organized to support Europe, Christine Lagarde since Washington recalled the need for world leaders to "common front" to avoid falling into a global recession will spare "person business card."

These statements on the euro area, combined with bargain hunting, did overshadow the release of mixed U.S. indicators (including the employment front) and European (growth on less-than-expected expected in the second half).

Side values, the banking sector was further illustrated by a sharp rise. Operators have particularly appreciated the decision taken by the central banks of the richest countries to take concerted action to expand the supply of banks in dollars.BNP Paribas is the largest increase in the ACC (13.38% to 30.50 euros). It is followed by Natixis (7.12% to 2.49 euros), Axa (6.49% to 9.89 euros), Credit Agricole (5.89% to 5.52 euros) and Societe Generale ( 5.44% to 18.33 euros). The area was not affected by the announcement of the massive fraud that hit UBS.

Another day value, LVMH, which climbed 3.44% to 115.65 euros after announcing choosing Jordi Constans, come to Danone, to succeed Yves Carcelle at the head of Louis Vuitton in 2013.

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After two sessions of gains, the Paris Bourse off again into negative territory on Friday and leaves 0.6% to 3068.79 points in early trade. Yesterday, the CAC 40 was able to stay the course despite the announcement of a downward revision of growth expectations in the euro area by the Fed chairman, Jean-Claude Trichet. Investors heartedly welcome the details of the employment plan unveiled by U.S. President Barack Obama in the night. He introduced a bill on the release of 447 billion dollars for the Americans out of unemployment."This plan will give an electric shock to an economy that has stalled, will give confidence to businesses on the fact that if they invest and hire, there will be customers for their products and services," assured the U.S. president to members of Congress .

As in Asia this morning, traders seem to doubt the implementation of this plan. Its funding is already generating questions from Republican opponents could block a vote. Barack Obama urged them to adopt "immediately". The U.S. president also announced that it will issue on September 19 "a deficit reduction plan more ambitious."

The health of America's economy is strong markets. Any further announcement is expected with great excitement. Yesterday Wall Street has finished in the red after being disappointed by the vague speeches of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.The latter did not give details on the measures it would implement to support growth, as they waited.

Inflation slows in China

Still on macroeconomic, Japan has this morning reported a decline of 2.1% of GDP in the second quarter 2011 annualized. This is more than the 1.3% decline initially estimated. The main factor weighing on GDP has been the decline in exports (-4.9% from January to March).

In China, rising consumer prices, the main barometer of inflation, which had accelerated in recent months, slowed slightly to 6.2% in August. Industrial production is she up 13.5% in August.

On the agenda are Friday's industrial production in France in July and inventories of wholesalers in the United States.

As for currencies, the euro has stabilized under $ 1.40, to 1.3896 dollar.Oil rises on the other hand, supported by a surprise drop in U.S. inventories. In early electronic trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 23 cents to 89.28 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 21 cents to 114.76 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

• TF1 (-4.3%), M6 (-2.25%) Bolloré (0.8%), Vivendi (-1.1%); NextRadioTV (-1.4%)

Chains react in a disorganized to take control of Direct 8 Direct and Star, two DTT channels free of the Bolloré Group, Canal +. The subsidiary of Vivendi will have three DTT frequencies. Be as much as TF1 and M6 more than the group which, in addition to the namesake chain, has only W9. For this operation, fully financed by shares, a stake Bolloré group Vivendi.

• Total (0.9%) signed the largest increase

The Anglo-Dutch oil group Shell said Friday that oil was discovered off the coast of French Guiana, during exploratory drilling at about 150 km off the coast.

• Sopra (1.81%)

The group announced the takeover of Delta, specialized in banking software. The transaction is expected to close in early October 2011, will be financed from existing credit lines of business consulting, IT services and software.

• Pierre & Vacances (-0.33%)

The group, which operates much of the accommodation ski resorts, opened 369 new tourist residences furnished this winter.

• ArcelorMittal (-1.7%)

The group will close as of October 3 for an indefinite period and the second blast furnace at its site in Florange (Moselle), according to a union source quoted by AFP.

• EADS (+0.8%) on the second step of the podium

The group said on Thursday not want to use all of its $ 16 billion (11.45 billion euros) in cash for acquisitions.