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The defense electronics group Thales has multiplied by eleven net profit in the first half compared to the same period in 2009. It amounted to 138 million euros against 12 million euros last year. The turnover has increased it by 4% to 5.95 billion.

"It's a gradual recovery in line with our expectations in an environment that is becoming," said Luc Vigneron, CEO of Thales. France and Great Britain, where Thales is firmly established, and Germany are considering a reduction in their defense budgets. Faced with this gives the group confirms its commitment to expand internationally. "We are continuing our campaign to improve our performance and want to take advantage of growth areas in emerging countries," said Luc Vigneron.

The group confirmed its 2010 targets. The sales will be stable, the operating profit margin would be 3 to 4%."An operating profit of 3 to 4% corresponds to a net positive for the group," said Patrick Durand, CFO. Thales has a loss in 2009.

Two contracts uncertain

While the group has already Saffron rebound airline, Thales will benefit later recovery of the aviation sector. It is possible that the group is obliged to take further charges for two contracts, "the situation is still somewhat uncertain": Meltem contract signed in July 2003 with Turkey on the one hand, the contract signed in July 2004 for the military transport plane A400M ordered by seven NATO countries (Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg), on the other. "Discussions are under way with Airbus business," said Luc Vigneron.The President of Thales said that the group has been in question had also been penalized by delays to the A400M.

Thales, which has won three contracts in excess of 100 million euros in the first half of 2010 against nine for the same period in 2009, expected completion in the second half of the supply of 81 satellites in the Iridium group. A contract of one billion euros.

Saffron is still determined to seize Zodiac

Saffron is always seize Zodiac. Jean-Paul Herteman, Chief Executive of the group of aerospace and defense, confirmed Wednesday that a rapprochement with Zodiac absolve synergies. "We make time to convince," said Jean-Paul Herteman. The battle is difficult. The supervisory board of Zodiac refused unanimously on July 11 a merger offer.Didier and Olivier Domange Zarrouati, respectively Chairman of the supervisory board and chief executive, believe that Zodiac may develop "not lean Safran or anyone else."

Optimistic after the publication of its first half results, Safran has also raised its annual forecast. It expects an operating margin of 8% against 7% previously. It provides a turnover close to that of 2009. "The performance in the first half lead us to revise our ambitions higher," said Jean-Paul Herteman. The group made a net profit of 223 million euros in the first half, down 20.6%.

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

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

Negotiations with Lagardère and Prisa

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

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

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

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The crisis in Greek and the euro area worry the president of the United States. "I am very concerned about what is happening in Europe," said Barack Obama during an interview Thursday with the Russian television channel Rossiya and released Saturday. The nervousness in global markets and the increasing concern of investors towards the debts of states caused by the Greek problem posing "serious threats" to the United States, "said Bush.

"I think the Europeans have realized that it was very serious. Greece takes measures very difficult in any case they have put in place a plan that calls for tough measures, "he acknowledged."If we can stabilize the situation in Europe, it will be good for the United States, and it will be good also for Russia."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the EU should announce before markets open Monday morning, creating a "Community mechanism to intervene" to save the states on the brink of bankruptcy. The European Commission was working on an emergency this weekend to present a convincing ministers of the European economy, which meet on Sunday afternoon. Reflecting the importance of time, Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister, and Nicolas Sarkozy, have decided not to travel to Moscow for commemorations of the end of the Second World War.

Week chaotic

European shares and U.S. were closed on very steep declines Friday.Protests against the rigor enameled three died in Athens on Wednesday, and unexplained sudden fall of the New York Stock Exchange during the day Thursday and fear of contagion from the crisis in Spain and Portugal have marked one week chaotic markets.

The statements have increased in recent days to encourage European leaders to act. "We hope to see emerge a strong and rapid European response to crisis", said, quoted by Bloomberg, the Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, who hosted the G7 on Friday. "We call for an answer as quickly as possible given the circumstances," insisted the Australian Minister for the Budget, Wayne Swan.

The Greeks accept the rigor

Nearly 55% of Greeks prefer an austerity plan to bankruptcy, according to a poll published Sunday in the daily Vima.Over 56% are even willing to accept wage cuts. Contradictory result, however, the same poll found that 53% of respondents felt the need to continue to protest against the austerity of the Papandreou government.

The rescue plan EU-IMF Greece will be ready "in the next few days," said Thursday the EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Ollie Rehn. He said he will "protect financial stability in Europe and worldwide."

"I think the negotiations will be completed in the next few days," said Ollie Rehn. Traders Greek, European and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are close to agreement on "a multi-year program leading to a major fiscal adjustment, and other structural modifications" necessary to restore public finances of Greece, and back its economy on track for sustainable growth, "he added.

This package of financial assistance by developed countries in the euro area and the IMF will give Greece enough "breathing space", has yet estimated the Commissioner.He declined to say more, stressing that negotiations were not buckled.

The EU and the IMF have pledged 45 billion euros in loans to Greece, including 30 billion provided by 15 other countries using the euro. But many observers now believe it will take a larger envelope for a permanent exit the stagnation Greece. The $ 130 billion is the most frequently mentioned.

The euro area also fears the contagion of the crisis, Greek, especially after the deterioration of sovereign debt ratings of Portugal from Spain Tuesday and then Wednesday, reflecting the mistrust of financial markets and make credit more expensive for the countries concerned.

Consolidation of budgetary rules

"What we need most right now is a clear direction.We need a leadership that can guide us out of this zone of turbulence, "said Jean-Claude Trichet in a speech at the Economic Summit in Munich. He added: "I am confident about the outcome of these discussions," he has simply said, indicating that they should be completed in the coming days bad credit pay day loans. According to the President of the ECB, the financial crisis continues to defy the European economy. He therefore called for an overhaul of EU budget rules and increased scrutiny of government finances.

Supporting the euro and Greece

Since Beijing, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has declared fully committed to support the euro and to support Greece.In a statement to Agence France Presse (AFP), the Head of State said: "The plan agreed by Greece is fully credible, we trust the Greek government and we are working hard to all this is put in place without delay. " He added: "France will play its part. We'll be at the rendezvous.

Nicolas Sarkozy has also insisted on "the perfect agreement between Germany and France" on how to resolve the debt crisis in Greece. "I constantly Chancellor Angela Merkel on the telephone."I was very satisfied with the statements of the Chancellor (…) on the credibility of the Greek plan, its determination to implement the European level to support the euro," he said while Berlin had rather hitherto been very reluctant to help Greece.

For Nicolas Sarkozy, "it should be understood that in this case, it is not only of Greece. This is the euro is our currency. We are committed, this concerns us and a duty of solidarity, we will pay.

"France has put in a position to fulfill its obligations to fight against speculation.The plan has been defined by Europe will be applied so important, we will not allow speculation to act at will to destabilize any country, "said the head of the French government about the crisis triggered by Greek abyssal deficit, which caused panic on stock markets and a fall in the euro.

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From our Washington correspondent

General Motors (GM) hopes to return to profit this year. But, for the six months following its release from bankruptcy – that is to say the second half of 2009 – the American manufacturer said Wednesday losses of 4.3 billion. A deficit can be explained by the accounting impact of one-off payment of 2.6 billion dollars to fund medical expenses of its workers unionized. Losses in the second half to add 88 billion of accumulated losses reported by GM since 2005. Fallen giant, which reveals for the first time since its release its finances in bankruptcy, however, is reassuring in terms of "positive cash flow of one billion dollars."GM will release its 2010 first quarter results next month.

The largest U.S. auto also Wednesday renewed his promise to repay the U.S. Treasury $ 4.7 billion by next June. This is the outstanding amount of loans to support its radical reorganization and exit bankruptcy instant payday loan. But the bulk of 50 billion dollars of state aid to GM has been converted into shares. The Treasury, which holds 61% stake in the manufacturer, hopes that conditions will be reunited as quickly as possible to divest this anachronistic situation through a grant from the reintroduction Detroit giant."We have important work to achieve but we are building the foundations that we will be re-listed," said Chris Liddell, the new group finance director, Microsoft hired by GM's new boss, Ed Whitacre .

Moving faster than expected GM bankruptcy has eliminated most of its debts and reduce its cost of labor. If we do not consider brands that are being abandoned, like Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn, GM sales are recovering.

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"It should stand on a cow so we can better see!" At the Salon of Agriculture, a crowd of onlookers quickly formed over the course of Nicolas Sarkozy, despite an early arrival more than expected Saturday morning. Instead of starting the tour at 9:30 am as originally indicated, Nicolas Sarkozy has surprised almost all journalists arriving one hour ahead.

Young contestants of agricultural schools, farmers horses, cattle, sheep and also butchers and florists … the president has sacrificed tradition and spent two hours in the aisles at the meeting of agricultural sector in deep trouble . After the walkabout, he announced new measures to help during a roundtable discussion with farmers.

"It must protect us against disasters"

Among the notable events of the morning, Nicolas Sarkozy held talks with Jean-Paul Rault, sheep farmer in the Vendee who lost almost all of his flock during the storm Xynthia. "I told him he should protect us against future catastrophes, because once again, I will, but not both," says the farmer of Walnut St. Radegund. Only were rescued sheep that was brought to Paris for the Salon.

"The president said he would not let us down, it would help us rebuild. And he would see us in Vendee, "says Jean-Paul Rault. The farmer said he was heartened by the presidential speech? "I have no a priori," he replies."We have seen figures for the help, we'll see what it will serve."

Video – flying over the farm of John Paul Rault after the passage of Xynthia:

More politics, the meat industry has questioned the head of state … about Greece. "He seemed surprised and not really know, but I asked him to be very vigilant on the Greek question: is our first export customer with 70,000 tonnes," explains Denis Sibille, president of Interbev, the inter-beef, mutton and horse. "The number of failures is very high and we refrain now to export, where a shortfall."

"Less talkative than President Chirac"

The exchange was more lively with the representative of the Federation Nationale Bovine (section FNSEA).Jean-Paul Fleury asked Nicolas Sarkozy less listen to his Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo, and arbitrate more often for his "excellent minister of Agriculture, Bruno Lemaire. "The arbitrage is my job, I do those I do," replied the president.

As tradition dictates, the President has offered a basket of food to stand craftsmen butchers. A prime rib and leg of lamb. "Just as with Chirac, I am sure that the meat was consumed, as with Nicolas Sarkozy, I'm not really sure," said Jean Claude Obriot however, the vocational school of the Butcher."And then he is less talkative than President Chirac," remembers the butcher who hosts the Salon chairs for ten years.

Just curious still, Nicolas Sarkozy was investigated to know what wood was made of sticks Youth Farm School of Laurent Sainte Marie in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques. In Hazelwood, they replied. A medium hard wood, semi-flexible, especially light. Ideal for tapping the side of the animals and move them forward.

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La France, Germany and other euro countries are preparing to establish a cordon sanitaire around Greece. To avoid the contagion of the fiscal crisis in southern Europe. The decision Wednesday by mature finance ministers must be confirmed Thursday by a special economic summit convened in Brussels.

Past Time denials on a "bailout plan", the sixteen Ministers of Finance have written Wednesday afternoon, the scenario during a videoconference decided in haste with the ECB president, Jean-Claude Trichet, and the new Commissioner of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn. Thursday it was the turn of the Heads of State and Government. Paris seemed to confirm an impending decision by saying that Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel will speak together at the end of the summit."This is a response to market concerns," said President of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Juncker.

Risk of contagion

The capitals of the euro area are found immersed in financial emergencies. It is no longer helping private banks threatened with bankruptcy, but sovereign states, victims of speculative attacks that threaten the stability of the euro.

Greece, whose fiscal situation is dramatic, can not find a buyer for the debt markets, less than 6% for a state loan to ten years, a price two times higher than Germany.The scenario of failure refinancing of Greece, with an explosion of interest rates, leading to bankruptcy of the country, hanging over all Euro zone.

The risk of infection, reported by the European Commission itself has closed the debate on whether to isolate and treat the first victim vigorously payday advance . "Greece is affected, and everybody crosses their fingers on a much more cumbersome: Spain", notes one diplomat. Treatment thought Wednesday could well be applied to others. "We envision all possible scenarios," said one senior European official.The draft promises to be bitter for the country ill: an infusion of bridging loans and short-term government guarantees, with counterpart, a say close to Europe and / or creditors in the reorganization undertaken by the governments.

These are the states at the forefront Paris and Berlin, who took the initiative. The French and German banks hold nearly 40% of the Greek foreign debt, which is active in mueraient balls if the crisis drags on trust.

Even with a label "European", the injection of state funds – for example French and German – to help a national treasure would be a first in the euro area. The creditors will not invest lightly in countries that already spend for pierced baskets. "Yes, help arrives.No, there is no question of releasing the pressure on Athens, Wednesday secured a European negotiator.

In practice, they are also the states should ensure, with an assiduity worthy of the IMF, that Greece meets the rigor period prescribed by Prime Minister Papandreou.

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Stopping the premium breaks will weigh on the statistics of retail sales in September in the United States. According to figures adjusted seasonally published by the Department of Commerce, they have declined sharply – from 1.5% in September compared to August – with the end of the device, which had boosted the index over the previous two months .

Although this decline is particularly important for a single month, it remains well below a forecast to analysts, who favored a decline greater than 2%. Auto sales, down significantly over the month, of course, have plagued the overall index, with a decrease amounted to 10.4% in September, a figure not seen since August 2005. They had jumped from 7.8% in August as a result of federal incentives to purchase new vehicles.

Excluding the impact of automobiles, retail sales rose 0.5% in September, more than was originally anticipated. A positive number, since they rose for the second consecutive month. Remains that over one year, the situation remains worrying, always accusing sales down 6.6% yoy in the third quarter.

Around 9:05, the CAC 40 rose 0.33% to 3812 points. The remarks of President of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis supports the market. James Bullard said on Sunday that the U.S. economy has resumed growth. He said the gross domestic product (GDP) could be between 2.5% and 3% in 2010, with possible further significant growth in the first half.

Values follow

The Russian manufacturer Avtovaz and Renault-Nissan alliance could make all the cars on the same assembly line in 2012, said boss Avtovaz, Igor Komarov.

According to the newspaper Liberation, a part of nuclear waste produced by nuclear plants of EDF is not recycled but stored in Russia. "13% of French radioactive waste produced by EDF are found outdoors in Siberia in a city forbidden to access," the paper said.The investigation by the newspaper should be broadcast Tuesday on Arte.

Carrefour sees no real signs of improving global economic conditions.

EDF would have received authorization of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to purchase 49.99% of the nuclear activities of Constellation Energy Group. This operation will enable it to strengthen the U.S. market. Local authorities in Maryland (USA) have not yet given their opinion.

Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS, is confident about the possibility of its A400M fly by the end of the year. This program already suffered a delay of four years.