• Incidents in Rome
Tens of thousands of demonstrators, inspired by the "outrage" of Wall Street and Spain, marched on Saturday in Rome, the city had been cordoned off by police. "One solution, the Revolution!", "We are not property in the hands of bankers," could be read on the signs of the protesters payday loans for bad credit.
In Rome, several cars were torched. Photo credits: ALBERTO PIZZOLI / AFP
In a market still panicked on issues of U.S. and European debt, he had to look this morning to find values still moving into positive territory. Yet the case of Bic, which is Wednesday morning at the top of the charts in the SBF 120 and values eligible for the SRD, with an increase of 5.27% to 64.74 euros an hour after opening. The reason: the publication of interim results above expectations, at least much of its activity. Good news that restores a little balm in the heart of the operators, cooled from a fortnight in business publications rather disappointing. Demonstrated again this morning the profit warning from Société Générale, in turn affected by the effects of the crisis of the Greek debt.
This is clearly not the case for Bic.The specialist in stationery, lighters and shavers has indeed unveiled Wednesday half-yearly sales up 5.5% (comparable) to 886.1 million euros and an operating profit of 174.9 million euros. An annual increase of 22.4% more than that of revenue, thanks in part to the increase in gross margin and cost savings involved in the restructuring program in 2009.
Offset deliveries of orders for back-classesCes good results are obtained Bic thanks to sales growth markets (+15.3% on a comparable basis) and by the strong performance of its consumer division (stationery, lighters, razors ).The latter, which represents over 85% of its turnover, has in fact increased by 8.8% over the period to 758.8 million euros, supported among others by the good performance in stationery and lighters in Latin America and Asia lighters.
However, in Europe and the United States, stationery grew much lower (about 1.5%), affected by the timing of delivery of orders to return to school. "Distributors delay until the last moment of receipt of goods back to school," explains the release. With the effect a shift in sales from the second to the third quarter. Despite this, the group remains confident for the year-end on this division that made its reputation. For 2011, management believes that growth in this sector will exceed the 5% previously announced for the year.
Advertising products to the penalty
Investors have therefore retained the good news rather than the poor performance of the other activities of Bic, namely advertising and promotional products (Bic APP), which represents 15% of its sales. In the first six months of the year, income from this activity decreased by 10.2% on a comparable basis, affected by "customer service issues, including delivery." In addition, BIC recorded in this division of non-recurring items mainly related to the reorganization of its Italian operations, affecting up to 1.9 million euros operating profit. In the end, Bic APP recorded a loss from operations of 3.5 million euros, against a gain of 1.6 million a year earlier.Bic said however, "confident about the success of the integration plan and return to growth of this branch in 2012."
In the longer term, Bic is also focusing on growing markets for its development. Within a decade, he wants to increase the share of its business that is conducted at over 40% against 29% in 2010. And to address inflationary environment of commodity prices, Bic plans in the coming weeks price adjustments "targeted" on some of its products. A "power-pricing" that would also be useful to offset increased marketing investments to support the brand.
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It is not far from the "loss of face." The misfortunes of the new high speed train from Beijing to Shanghai are doing good laugh from all over China, while the press is unleashed and the authorities are trying to limit the damage. It must be said that it was promoted as a symbol of the Chinese railway resounding success, ready to go to conquer the world. But the beginnings are disastrous.
Last week, the train fell down several times. Internet forums and newspapers are full of stories telling outraged passengers have found in open country, stranded in trains closed and sweating profusely in the searing heat of summer. The Ministry of Railways had promised Friday that these problems would be "resolved" expeditiously. His spokesman, Wang Yongping, presented "excuses".And recognized that the line had seen "dozens of power outages" and a host of other "problems". The summer storms are largely responsible.
This iconic TGV line was opened with great fanfare on June 30, very proudly with "a year ahead" and, just as symbolically, the day before the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party. It was presented as the flagship of the newly high-tech controlled by China, and one of his arms out to conquer the world. Premier Wen Jiabao, said the line "operational" in Beijing before boarding for the first trip to the South. This train will link the two major Chinese cities 1300 km apart in less than five hours. The construction of the line has cost 23 billion euros.In March, the audit office of the state showed that 187 million yuan (20 million) had been diverted from the site by individuals or companies.
Massive rail projects
Chinese railway projects are enormous bad credit payday loans. In 2009, it was announced that 42 high-speed lines were planned for 2012, for an investment of 210 billion euros. China has the network of its kind in the world's largest, with more than 8000 km of track, and she wants to extend it to 25,000 kilometers by 2015 and 50,000 km in 2020. This year, like last year, Beijing is expected to invest 70 billion euros. Since the end of 2009, the "fastest train in the world" flows 350 km / h between Guangzhou and Wuhan. And last December, China announced proudly beating the world speed record with an oar unchanged at 486.1 km / h.But many voices cast doubt on the economic viability of some lines, less strategic than between Beijing and Shanghai. In February, the authorities decided to reduce the speed of TGV Chinese, for purposes of economy and to improve their safety. And the dramatic dismissal for corruption of the Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun, also in February, has revived speculation about a slowdown in rail projects.
Meanwhile, it is the airlines are rubbing their hands. They were sentenced say – almost – on the route from Beijing to Shanghai. The price of a one-way train range from 410 yuan (44 euros) and 1,750 yuan (190 euros), according to three classes, against about 1,300 yuan (140 euros) for a plane ticket in economy class.The airlines had already begun to lower their prices, with discounts up to 65% in response to the competition ground. They should slow down the movement …
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The Secretary General of the UMP, Hervé Novelli, wants to remove the 35 hours if Nicolas Sarkozy wins in 2012. And, as requested by the MEDEF. Hervé Novelli unveils project in an interview Saturday in Paris, in France today. "This is to define the new rules and the areas in which the social partners will now hand as the length of working time. Just like Germany where the legal working time is negotiated and determined on a company or branches, "says Novelli."We know that from one sector to another, the needs are not the same, so it's logical that he return to the social partners to address this problem." Argues there yet.
"Three years to negotiate working hours"
Speaking at a convention on social reconstruction that will host Tuesday with Jean-Francois Cope, secretary general of the UMP, he will present his script. "Companies will have three years from 2012 to negotiate working hours, he says. While some employers will remain at 35 hours, they can. Those who play the game will be held to compensate their relief over the next three years. " He also said that the tax exemption of overtime will be abolished after 2014.
The UMP also wishes to address the financing of social protection."The solution would be to transfer part of its funding on indirect taxation of consumption type VAT or CSG. Only the family branch would be transferred, in whole, or 32 billion euros, or in part, "he explains. He added: "If we transferred the whole, this would be 4 points plus VAT. But I recognize that this growth would break. We therefore advocate a gradual transfer of 12 billion euros in three years, in the end an increase of 1.5% VAT or 1.1 point of CSG, "says Novelli.
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After the accident nucléraire Japan March 11 Fukushima, who questioned the safety of nuclear power in the world, Areva intends to secure its investments by standing as a major player in offshore wind Thus, the group NUCLEAR he announced Wednesday morning that it has signed a strategic partnership with Iberdrola Renewables, a subsidiary of Spanish giant Iberdrola and world leader in offshore wind to meet the tender just launched by the French government. The project, detailed by Nicolas Sarkozy last January after being repeatedly postponed, for the first phase is to establish 600 wind turbines with an installed capacity of 3,000 megawatts (MW) in France. In 2020, Nicolas Sarkozy has described the goal of 6000 MW of offshore wind, or 1200 units to be built.The specifications of the tender will be published in July, two months behind schedule.
"Areva and Iberdrola are two major areas of the five selected for the first phase of the tender," said the French group said in a statement, without giving further details. The five development zones are located on the Atlantic coast and the Channel, between Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) and Tréport (Seine-Maritime) easy pay day loans. According to the newspaper Les Echos, the areas of Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Nazaire are cited, and the two companies together produce between 500 and 750 MW of capacity. In addition, a construction group should join them "very soon".If the alliance was successful, Iberdrola Renewables will develop the project as it does in Germany or the United Kingdom while Areva exclusively manufacture and supply of wind turbines of 5 MW.
Recently, GDF-Suez and Vinci jointly responded to the tender which is a whole of 10 billion euros for zones of Dieppe-Tréport, Fecamp (both in Seine-Maritime) and Courseulles -sur-Mer (Calvados). While at the beginning of the year, Alstom and EDF Energies Nouvelles announced together to meet all of the tender.
This announcement could be the last made under the direction of Anne Lauvergeon whose term expires June 30 Luc Oursel then take the head of the Executive tomorrow, Thursday.
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"To show a spirit of responsibility and sense of compromise." Nicolas Sarkozy has launched Thursday a solemn appeal to Europeans to save Greece. Whereas this morning in Berlin, the French president knows that he will deploy a wealth of imagination and persuasion to move Angela Merkel. While Athens, plunged into a financial and political crisis, is on the verge of bankruptcy, the Chancellor is considering a new excess wait. Faced with a sling in his majority, Merkel angers its European partners by raising the pressure: it insists on any new financial aid package Greek participation of private creditors to let them share the burden of German taxpayers.
Berlin's position, however, has eased somewhat in recent hours.The German government, which faces an end of inadmissibility of the European Central Bank (ECB), now would require a report in September of decision on an extension to Greece, initially expected at the European Council next week . Play for time when it is urgent to try to influence the debate: Berlin had already used this tactic in the first act of the Greek crisis, in May 2010, reluctant to put their hands in the pocket for Athens.
Participation binding
The Europeans have accepted half that request. The Commissioner of Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn, said that measures should ultimately be decided at the Eurogroup of 11 July. In the meantime, to ease the burden a little Athens, Europe could decide to release the funds promised for July."I am confident that next Sunday the finance ministers of the euro area will meet in Luxembourg will decide on the payment of the fifth tranche of loans to Greece," said Olli Rehn. This band represents just under 8 billion that would normally add 3.7 billion paid by the IMF. The fund has remained vague about his intentions, while suggesting a hint that it will participate in this effort absolutely free credit score. "We are ready to continue to support Greece if the Greek authorities take the economic measures promised," said his spokesman, in Washington.
Save time is to enable Europeans to reach a compromise on how to involve private creditors in aid to Greece. Paris insists that nothing be done that goes against the opinion of the ECB, which guarantees the stability of the euro.But in Berlin, the German government does not hide his irritation with respect to the ECB, which usually defends tooth and nail independence. The European monetary institution insists that the private creditors of Greece are known as a "voluntary basis" to grant a stay in a country where the rating agencies expect the bankruptcy. It is far from enough in the eyes of members of the center-right coalition of Merkel, where such participation must be mandatory. To ensure the support of the Bundestag increasingly looking to the funds of Germany, the federal government requests that all creditors are asked to exchange their shares against the Greek bonds at longer maturities.For the ECB, such an exchange would mean forced to recognize that Athens is in default.
Italy's Mario Draghi, who will fall over from Jean-Claude Trichet, head of the ECB, had his baptism of fire on Thursday night in Berlin, during a meeting with the Chancellor in which he was trying to find a solution to the dilemma German. For the Chancellor, it was however only a first round: she will spend three hours today with Nicolas Sarkozy to find a compromise.
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– Manage the post-Fukushima
The renaissance that nuclear power seemed to promise, in the world, there are a few more months, will she be? Areva had put in a position to be a key player in the expansion of civil atom, only controlled and profitable alternative to fossil fuels and "clean" in CO2 emissions which is more. The French group and hired some 12,000 people each year to keep pace expected of its business.
Since 11 March, the situation has changed dramatically: Germany, Switzerland and now Italy, have decided to end their civil nuclear program. India, with firm orders for new reactors was expected before the summer, will surely prolong his reflection. Anne Lauvergeon refused to believe in a "nuclear winter".For her as for other supporters of the atom, the policy decisions taken today as the heat of the moment can be questioned tomorrow.
For now, the international development of Areva is at stake in the coming months, all the nuclear installations in Europe will be reviewed. Although the terms of these "stress tests" are still being defined, Areva will necessarily be at the forefront. Like Anne Lauvergeon, his successor will have to become a diplomat of nuclear power, both to reassure his interlocutors on the safety of this activity and convince them to pursue an effective dialogue with the French group.
– Restore the finances of the company
For a long time, critics of Anne Lauvergeon stigmatize poor operational management of the company and its finances in jeopardy.In 2010, the company has also accused an operating loss of 423 million euros and the rating agency has become mediocre. The group also suffers from having camped on his credo of "vertical integration", to the point of purchase, too expensive, its own uranium mines, which now require large investments. Finally, the action Areva is listed in this form since May 30, has lost nearly 15%.
– Pacifier relationship with EDF
Relations have never been easy between the two companies, they have become abominable between Anne and Henri Proglio Lauvergeon, CEO of the utility since the fall of 2009. Regularly called to order by the state, their shareholders to both, the two companies to work together STRIPS sentenced last fall to formalize a strategic partnership.
All aspects of collaboration are concerned, the supply of uranium to the reprocessing of spent fuel, to building new reactors. But the various working groups have not yet yielded any conclusions. Again, the management of Areva will be watched around the corner. Luc Oursel will be on a narrow track of restoring harmonious relations with EDF, without appearing the vassal.
Seen from the Elysee, the issue is crucial because it is to harmonize relationships within the French nuclear industry to win export contracts. Without compromising the ability of Areva to sell only his skills to other electricians global EDF's competitors.
– To service the Finnish EPR
It's really cursed the site for Areva. The new generation of reactor Olkiluoto 3 should have been operational in 2009. It will not be before 2012.His bill, expected around 3.5 billion euros, has appreciated by 3 billion euros, lead accounts Areva. The company – which has staked his credibility by taking on the project management of this project – no longer has the right to make mistakes. The EPR is the cornerstone of its international development. And it is that Luc Oursel return the task to make a successful export, arguing its assets in terms of safety.
At the same time, the new leader of the nuclear group will tackle the launch of the TDD, a new medium-power reactor that. Through this case is the ability of the company to expand its portfolio of facilities that will be tested.
For many employees of EDF, is the safety of nuclear plants is at stake They are concerned about an internal memo released Saturday by Le Parisien in France today, which aims to increase the maximum working in nuclear plants during "outages", those moments during which the reactors are closed, including maintenance.
During these periods unprofitable, EDF would indeed be able to quickly restart the reactor by its employees to work harder. The letter dated May 10 and addressed by the deputy director of EDF's nuclear generation, Philippe Druelle, each plant manager, and plans "to request exceptions to the limits to working with the inspectors work" or Regional Labour Directorate. EDF would like to apply a measure "by the summer of 211".
The project raises the ire of unions and employees' concerns. "EDF is organized to legalize abuses Hourly unacceptable and dangerous for employees and therefore nuclear safety," said the CGT. "EDF wants to push through and have hands on working time of its executives, including weekends and holidays, creating a zone of lawlessness, without any legislation on the organization of work "added the daily Annie Thebaud-Mony, director of research at Inserm.
Decreased alertness
While these periods of outages, which usually last from one to three months, is already reflected by an increased pace of work ranging from simple to double, with penalty of night and weekend , employees are concerned about the consequences of such change on their health and efficiency."We do work twelve hours or more is absurd, evidenced by a technical framework of the Chinon power plant. Beyond a certain limit, we can no longer be vigilant to 100% payday loans. " "I do my work carefully so as not to endanger the operation of the site. But it is already to the detriment of my health. Nationally, it is impossible to continue at this pace without consequence, "said another engineer of the Central Blayais in the Gironde.
For its part, EDF denies wanting to increase the working hours of employees. "This is a misunderstanding. [...] It will never matter to executives working 78 hours per week. This is contrary to the values of a responsible nuclear operator, has defended Bernard Lassus, director of human resources group in the columns of Le Parisien – Aujourd'hui en France.This ensures that the meetings with the general direction of work aimed instead to "clarify the organization of work", so as to "allow executives to take their daily rest period of 11 hours."
A technician Areva denounces inadequate security at the Hague
A retired technician from the treatment plant of La Hague nuclear waste warned Wednesday against the "inadequate security" site, which is home to one of the largest volumes of radioactive material in the world. Heard by the Local Information (CLI) of the site, he defended the idea that Areva is expected to build a "cathedral of concrete" against possible projectiles, when the site is currently protected by a "simple metal siding. For if a projectile reaches the pools, which contain the equivalent release of 100 reactors, "it would be worse than Fukushima," he said.For its part, Areva believes that site security is already assured by the existence of contingency plans in case of overflight of the plant.
The NYSE playing yoyo on Thursday. After starting down (-0.20% for the Dow Jones), the indices reflected the upward path. About 20 hours in Paris, the Dow Jones gained 0.48% at 12,691 points, the Nasdaq is 0.56% at 2861 points and the S & P advance of 0.51% to 1349 points.
This return is in the green at the same time as the rise in oil prices. The latter, who had also opened lower at 96.96 dollars, recovered after a sharp color correction yesterday. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, the price rises to $ 99.
Caution remains formatting: "Concerns about Europe and the debt crisis with the International Monetary Fund warning of a risk of contagion from the situation in Greece, indicators Chinese earlier this week, The warning from the International Energy Agency on oil demand, it all comes out at once and shower market, "said Phil Flynn of PFG Best Research.
Greece worries
The fiscal situation in Greece still disturbs the meeting. Thousands of Greeks have shown Wednesday, the day of general strike against austerity measures and privatizations decided by the government that seeks new international aid to avoid a debt restructuring of the country.
In the wake of these events, the euro fell sharply against the greenback, falling below $ 1.42 Wednesday. But about 20 hours, the single currency rises.The euro bought 1.4266 dollars at that time against 1.4193 dollars late Wednesday.
Retail sales and producer prices
On the macroeconomic front, retail sales rose slightly less than expected in April in the U.S. (+0.5% against 0.6%), posting their smallest increase in nine months as rising prices Food and fuel accounts for household spending.The producer prices have increased them by 0.8% in April according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department, more than expected by analysts who had forecast 0.5%.
New jobless claims fell to 434,000 during the first week of May, according to figures released Thursday by the Labor Department, down nearly equal to the unexpected increase in the previous week.
Finally, business inventories rose more than expected in March, while sales posted their largest gain in a year, suggesting that first-quarter GDP will be revised upward, said Thursday the Commerce Department.Inventories rose 1.0% to 1.476 billion dollars, its highest level since November 2008, while economists polled by Reuters had waited an increase of 0.8%.
The side of values
The oil companies, heavyweights rating penalized yesterday by falling prices, contributing to their rise on Thursday. Thus, Chevron gained 0.66% to 102.936 dollars and ExxonMobil up from 0.38% to 81.43 dollars.
Cisco has unveiled for the fourth quarter of 2010/2011 a turnover of 1.67 billion, up 9% and net profits tax of 168 million dollars against 184 million last year. For the current quarter, the software company believes that business prospects are mixed and the current quarter will be "low" according to the leaders. The title loses 6.02% to 16.72 dollars.
The publisher of security software and antivirus software, Symantec (3.40 to 20.07 dollars) has announced earnings per share of 38 cents against 36 cents expected by analysts, and a turnover of 1 , 67 billion also exceeded expectations of analysts who had forecast $ 1.6 billion.
Google Internet group (-0.80% to 531.15 U.S. dollars) will launch next month the first computers using its new operating system chrome, representing a total challenge to the business model of Microsoft with its Windows system.These computers manufactured by Acer and Samsung, will have the distinction of having the browser Chrome only software preinstalled.
The U.S. internet group Yahoo! (-1.51% To 16.95 dolars) is still buffeted stock exchange after revealing that a subsidiary of the Chinese payment service online Alibaba Group, where he has a major stake, was passed under the control of boss Jack Ma of Alibaba
The rating agency Standard and Poor's said Wednesday evening that she fell a notch to "BBB", the note of U.S. chemicals group Dow Chemical (-1.23% to 38.52 U.S. dollars) with a stable outlook, due to the progress of its results and its prospects for debt reduction.
Also note, the leaders of telecom operators AT & T and T-Mobile (+0.13% to 31.42 dollars) clashed Wednesday night on U.S. lawmakers skeptical of their merger at $ 39 billion, announced in March . "Now four companies control nearly 90% of the national market of mobile telephony," said Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy. He called the competition authorities and Communications to conduct an extensive review of the transaction.
Cap the accumulated social minimum, establish hours of general utility to the beneficiaries of RSA, increase eligibility for foreigners … the proposals of the European Affairs Minister Laurent Wauquiez, stated on Sunday RMC and BFM TV, raised an outcry among the left and associations.
How does the RSA?
Created in 2009 by Martin Hirsch, then High Commissioner for Active Solidarity, the Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) is divided between an amount of "base" (466.99 euros this year), paid to a person who does not work and the "RSA activity" that complements a low wage. Its amount decreases gradually as the wage increases.
A recipient of the RSA is required to follow the actions of insertion and can not refuse more than two reasonable offers of employment as defined in the custom project.In 2010, 1.8 million people have benefited from the RSA.
What is the maximum amount currently received by a beneficiary?
There is no ceiling to the total tested benefits enshrined in law. But in fact, adding the main aid, some stand out maximum amounts. Thus, by combining the RSA and housing assistance (which varies depending on the rent and the circumstances of the person and can reach 298 euros per month), a single person without children can receive up to 709 euros per month. A couple whose members are inactive can, in turn, affect up to 945 euros per month. This is indeed a sum greater than 75% of net monthly minimum wage (804 euros), which is the maximum threshold of accumulated social minima proposed by Laurent Wauquiez.
But the people receiving the minimum wage have also, entitled to aid, such as housing allowance and a bonus for the job.A couple where one spouse earns the minimum wage can have an income of up to 1400 euros. Is a notable difference from a couple idle up to around 450 euros.
For pensioners, the situation is different: "It is possible that the minimum pension recipients who receive housing assistance affect maximum the same as a couple where one spouse works, says William Allegre, an economist at the OFCE specializes in social policy. At age 65, the problem of work incentives do not arise. The objective is to ensure that society older standard of living above poverty line ".
For these benefits, there are the "rights", very difficult to estimate, which are voluntary aid paid by local authorities.They cover areas as diverse as school meals, transport and access to sports facilities such as swimming.
Where is France?
For fifty years, the share of social benefits in French disposable income has jumped from 16.3% in 1960 to 30.8% in 2009, according to figures from INSEE. However, France is today the average of OECD countries: the main social assistance account for 59% of average earnings. By comparison, they reach 104% in Denmark, 84% Japan 83% in Ireland, Sweden 81% or 63% in Germany.
What would be the consequence of a ceiling on minimum social benefits?
The Minister of European Affairs would "cap the aggregate of all the social minimum to 75% of minimum wage, no more." "Talking cap is like trying to reduce aid," said Guillaume Allègre.But with a current unemployment rate to 9% this financial incentive would be ineffective, according to the Economist: "It would only ensure that the poor are poorer."
View shared by Christopher Noel, a lawyer specializing in labor law: "We know that in most cases, the problem is not economic but personal criteria: they are, for example, women with three or four children, of disabled or people with illnesses. A cap will change nothing but stigmatize the problem part of the population. "
Establish hours of general utility is it realistic?
In consideration of the RSA, Laurent Wauquiez proposes to introduce five hours weekly of general utility. "This is a proposal that raised more questions than it answers, answers Guillaume Allègre. It should create public jobs to oversee this work.In addition, follow a million people could create many administrative problems. " For the economist, between transport costs, any meal vouchers, travel difficulties for people with health problems and management costs, the proposal could be more costly than what it reported.
Master Christopher Noel also fears that the measure is ineffective: a mother or a person with a health problem will always be so difficult to get to work. "If people refuse, is that they remove their social minimum? In this case, is what it will create another minimum, even lower? Guillaume Allègre also questioned.Finally, what activities will be considered public utilities? And why not create public jobs for them? "
Finally, the proposal is largely "symbolic," concludes Guillaume Allegre: "Making lives more difficult for economically inactive people who work are more satisfied."
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