Dec 4




After a year and a half behind schedule, the military transport plane A400M will finally soon make its first flight. A spokesman for the German Ministry of Defense said Thursday that the first flight will take place on 10 or 11 December in Seville (Spain). He said that "of 11 is most likely. For its part, Airbus Military has just announced a flight to "the end of the week" next. The exact date will depend on the results of ground tests and the weather.

The transport aircraft propellers powered by four turboprop engines have been flying in summer 2008 but has suffered many delays because of development problems, particularly related to its engine. Deliveries to the armies are in turn delayed by at least three years and will not occur before late 2012 at the earliest.Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg have ordered a total of 180 aircraft.

Nov 12




Dark period for producers of solar energy. Q-Cells, one of the world's leading manufacturers of solar cells, reported a loss of nearly 1 billion euros over the first nine months of the year, against a profit of 150 million euros over the same period in 2008. Its turnover in nine months has, meanwhile, fell sharply by 40.9% yoy to 550.3 million euros.

The group Q-Cells said the decline coupled turnover and results by falling prices of photovoltaic cells, a background of economic crisis and increased competition from Chinese manufacturers, which enjoy much lower costs and massive government aid programs.

The Conergy Group, number two German industry has recorded its share down 41% of its sales in the third quarter while its counterpart Phoenix Solar, which specializes in installing solar panels on the roofs of buildings, revised downward its forecast for growth in turnover.

The Chinese group JA Solar is one of those who profit from the current weakness of its European competitors. With a volume of record quarterly shipments, the Asian group could return to profitability in the third quarter.

To adapt to this changing market, Q-Cells, as rival Norwegian Renewable Energy, has already started to transfer Asian part of its production to reduce costs.

Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, the action Q-Cells lost 3.86% to 10.93 euros in mid-session while Phoenix Solar yielded 4.88% to 35.10 euros.Conergy was also in the red, falling 2.53% to 0.77 euros.

Oct 20




Consultation on priorities for the future that could benefit from the large debt are increasing in all directions. Just last week, the Labor Minister, Xavier Darcos, and his colleague on the Budget, ?ric Woerth, has received the social partners to discuss it. Meanwhile, contributions from corporations, professional associations, political parties or departments have been compiled by the government: markets of the future, health, eco responsibility, education, telemedicine, high-speed … all proposals abound.Latest, on Monday: France Biotech, the association of biotechnology companies has suggested that 15 billion euros are earmarked for "life sciences", including research on vaccines or stem cell.

The Head of State himself, in his interview with Le Figaro on Friday 16 October, citing the university, the capital of SMEs, renewable energy, research on the degeneration of cells … The tracks confirmed by one of Co-Chairs of the Committee Juppe Rocard-loaded by the Elysee to reflect the priorities of large loan: "We have four main themes: research, university, broadband and green growth," said Monday the former Socialist Prime Minister to Echoes.

The debate should continue in the coming days. This morning, the UMP will hold a convention devoted to the subject.And this week the Prime Minister, Fran?ois Fillon, will receive the representatives of political parties to gather their views. It should be against an end of inadmissibility of the first secretary of the PS, Martine Aubry.

Manage investments

Beyond the choice of sectors, the thinking is now entering a second phase. The only Matignon called "governance" of the big loan. In other words, how to manage investments? How to raise private funds for public funds abound? How to ensure the profitability of projects, both in growth and jobs? How to distinguish between projects which receive loans or advances repayable those who will receive grants? This question is not neutral."If public money is abundant private programs, it is legitimate to ask whether companies who will or will not reimburse a part," says one banker who has been heard by the committee.

The other issue to be decided on the terms and amount of the loan. Many people refer to a figure well below the 80 or 100 billion by the Elysee imagined initially. For Christian de Boissieu, President of the Council of Economic Analysis and member of the committee, the critical mass of future debt is between 20 and 60 billion euros. More precise, Michel Rocard evokes, in Les Echos, an amount which shall not "be too far above 30 billion. Additional constraint: since Nicolas Sarkozy announced the principle of the loan at Versailles in June, the bad news accumulated on the public finances.The debt of France should reach the record level of 91% in 2013, according to the latest estimates of Bercy. Finally, the question of opening the loan from individuals and seems well and truly departed yet. Privately, Alain Jupp? said he also reluctant to appeal to the public. "We prefer to use a traditional market," confirms Michel Rocard.

The great debt is expected to approach 30 billion euros

Aubry: "For Sarkozy, it's time failures"

Oct 12




The Dow Jones gained 0.80% to 9864.94 points with the momentum indicators and corporate earnings better than expected, published in the week. This is its highest closing level since October 6, 2008. The Nasdaq gained 0.72% turn to 2139.28 points.

The U.S. trade deficit declined by 3.6% in August to 30.7 billion dollars against 31.9 billion in July, data adjusted for seasonal variations. This decline is due to higher exports and lower imports. The market was waiting to turn an increase in the deficit to 33 billion.

Traders expect the status quo of U.S. interest rates for a few months after the speech of Ben Bernanke yesterday. This indicated that the Fed would be "ready" to act in time to return to a normal monetary policy."When economic prospects are sufficiently improved, we are ready to tighten monetary policy to eventually bring our balance to a more normal configuration," he said.

The values of the day

In a statement Chevron (1.83%) indicates that its results "should be better in the third quarter than the second. The results of exploration and production are expected to rise sharply, reflecting rising prices for crude oil, as well as some 400 million of gains from asset sales and tax revenue.

The Chinese Tengzhong will redeem 4×4 Hummer brand from General Motors today. The amount would be some 150 million dollars. Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery was in talks with GM since JuneIn addition, sales of General Motors in China and its joint ventures are around 1.3 million vehicles in the first nine months of the year.

The Wall Street Journal, the bookstore chain Barnes & Noble (-1.33%) is about to sell its own electronic reader, Kindle competitor to Amazon. Com.

Oct 12




The government is preparing to take action against doctors displaying excess fees excessive. According to the Tribune, which learned of a draft decree, the Ministry of Health plans to strengthen sanctions. This decree law enforcement Hospital, patients, health plans and territories that doctors may repeat the overrun will lose their right to practice these overruns for a maximum of five years, by decision of the directors of health insurance . They will also no longer benefit from the participation of health insurance to finance their social security contributions.

The decree said that physicians in fee-free areas 2 (*) when developing their passing rates must respect the concept of "tact and moderation."This principle takes into account the patient's financial situation, the reputation of the specialist, the complexity and duration of medical procedure, the service rendered to the insured, and the average amount and the proportion of exceedances What colleagues introduced the physician in the same territory. Failure to respect this concept of "tact and moderation," the penalty will rise to between 100 doctors and 200% of excess charged.

The decree issued by the end of the year

If they are convinced of discrimination in access to care, the penalty is twice the maximum monthly Social Security or 5718 euros.For doctors who have not sent their patients written information prerequisite to the cost and terms of repayment of certain acts, it will cost a maximum of 100% of the excess charged for the act not informed.

A source at the Ministry of Health confirmed that a decree was being prepared. He could be released by the end of the year, but its content should still be subject to consultation. The framework for higher fees is the subject for several years of painstaking negotiations between health insurance, supplemental health and unions of physicians.

Unions and health insurance have scheduled a meeting Thursday to reach agreement before the deadline.MPs set them under the law Bachelot, adopted earlier this summer, a deadline of October 15, after which the government could decide only coaching overruns.

(*) The excess fees authorized for physicians called in "Area 2" means amounts above the rates for Social Security, which are based on reimbursements for patients.

"Overtaking fee: regional inequalities surprising

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