Archivio per la categoria 'economy'

Asia Market ends in a disorganized

In the wake of Wall Street and Paris, the Asian stock markets preparing to end the week uncoordinated. Although most of the macroeconomic indicators published Thursday in the U.S. and Europe were positive, caution is still required until the figures of unemployment and employment for the month of August in the United States.

Around 7:00, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.19% to 9079.80 points, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong shows a small increase from 0.08% to 20,884.96 points, the Seoul Stock Exchange and Sydney move at equilibrium respectively 3726.98 points (+0.02%) and 4533 points (0.01%) and the Bombay Stock Exchange ahead of 0.16% to 18,268.04 points.Only the Taiwan Stock Exchange posted a sharp increase: 1.33% to 7823.54 points.

Conversely, Singapore was down 0.20% to 2980.70 points and the MIC of the China Stock Exchange was down 0.48% to 2907.32 points.

On the currency markets, the euro / yen has fallen slightly: -0.17% at 107.96 yen per euro, as the dollar / yen -0.10% at 84.23 yen to the dollar .

Oil prices drop below $ 75 in electronic trading in Asia, due to profit taking and some optimistic forecasts for employment in the United States.

In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for October delivery lost 26 cents to 74.76 dollars. One of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery yielded 35 cents to 76.58 dollars a barrel.

The growth will be better than expected euro zone

It's official: the economy in the euro zone will be better than expected. The European Central Bank has acknowledged Thursday by raising its growth forecast for 2010 and 2011. According to new figures, the business would grow in 2010 in a range between 1.4 and 1.8% from 0.7% to 1.3% estimated earlier. By 2011, growth would be between 0.5% and 2.3%, against +0.2% +2.2% previously.

"The range of real GDP growth this year has been revised upward due to stronger than expected rebound in economic growth in the second quarter and better than expected trends observed during the months of summer," explained the ECB president, Jean-Claude Trichet."For 2011, the band has also been revised up to reflect mainly the lingering effects of the stronger growth expected in late 2010."

Uncertainty

Despite these upward revisions, "uncertainty continues to prevail," said Jean-Claude Trichet nuanced. On the other hand, "the resumption of activity should be constrained by the process of balance sheet adjustments in various sectors and the prospects of the labor market."

Especially, the growth differentials are widening between the different countries of the eurozone, economists noted. When Germany led the run with 2.2% growth in the second quarter, Greece sinking into recession with a decline of 1.5% of GDP. Same trend for national unemployment rates. In these circumstances, the ECB's strategy looks complicated.

This is not a problem, "replied Jean-Claude Trichet: the Fed, the U.S., is in the same position for decades with 50 states. "Over the past decade, the lowest growth of a U.S. state was 0.9% (Ohio) and the highest 4.7% (Arizona). We observed the same discrepancy in the euro area over the same period, "argued the president of the ECB. Same thing for the unemployment rates have spread from 3.5% to 14% depending on the states. Again, we found the same range in the Eurozone. "

Decline of social plans in H1

Good news on the employment front. The Labor Department announced Wednesday morning in the Echoes of figures on backup plans for employment (PSE) fell sharply from the end of 2009. In the first half of 2010, 668 PES have been reported to the administration against 934 in the second half of 2009, a decrease of 28.5% over this period. Moreover, the month of June 2010 recorded 87 such redundancy schemes, a level at its lowest since August 2008. The Ministry of Labour, however, did not release the total number of jobs destroyed by these schemes.

This news comes in support of other labor market indicators published recently. Two weeks ago, INSEE reported on the creation of 60,000 salaried positions in six months, one year after 2009 generally very destructive.The use of frames also rebounded since last January found the Association for the executive employment (APEC). In July, the job offers published by the association executives and 53% progressed, mainly in IT and business functions.

2009 catastrophic

However, the decrease in the number of PES remains in place relative to the extent that the figures for 2009 had been devastating: 2,245 plans had been identified during this year particularly affected by the crisis, nearly 2.5 times than in 2007. With already 668 PES 2010 is also unlikely that the number PSE set up in 2010 found its level before the crisis (957 PES 2007).

The explosion, finally, the number of broken treaty in June might suggest that some companies use them in lieu of some PES, although this practice is prohibited by law. In order not to attract the attention of governments and not having to pay compensation in the amount tends to grow under pressure, companies could use this mechanism put in place two years ago, or even layoffs in smaller numbers.

The CAC 40 rose 3%, reaches 3750 points

The Paris Bourse was raised a notch to 16 heyres. Already the CAC 40 took more than 2% since this morning, but the ISM index of manufacturing activity, released on Monday across the Atlantic in 16 hours (Paris time) gave a boost to U.S. indices, as best expected. European stock markets all benefit.

In Paris the CAC 40 wins no less than 2.96% at 3,750 points to 16.20. The month of August begins very well, after one month of July already favorable to investors in Paris.

Last month, the CAC 40 was well recovered, compared to a decline in June and a memorable month of May in terms of poor performance. Between 1 July and this July 30, the index rose 9.1%. Since the beginning of the year, it remains a decline of 7.45%. Compared to a year ago, it was up 6.3%.

On the face of macroeconomic indicators, two publications are important to remember.In Europe, growth in manufacturing output and new orders accelerated, reaching their highest level in three months, according to the latest PMI survey released Monday and conducted by Markit Economics Institute. The PMI index for manufacturing final Eurozone appears already to 56.7 in July against 55.6 in June

On the other side of the Atlantic, the ISM has continued to grow, but less than before. The increase in activity in the manufacturing sector in the United States has continued to slow in July, the index measuring the ISM has fallen to 55.5, but less than expected, according to figures released Monday by the association .

On the values front, are monitored:

BNP Paribas (4.59%) which unveiled on Monday its quarterly results before the market in good order. They are far beyond expectations, thanks to lower provisions.The title gained 4.19% to 54.92 euros. The title brings in its wake Societe Generale (2.97%). For its part, Credit Agricole gained 2.33% to 10.75 euros.

Air Liquide (1.29% to 87.48 euros) on Monday confirmed its objective of increasing its net profit in 2010 after an acceleration of growth in sales between the first and second quarter, thanks emerging markets.

France Telecom (1.09% to 16.24 euros) has initiated discussions with shareholders Meditel second operator in Morocco, to acquire 40% stake in it, according to the Moroccan weekly News, suggesting a possible investment of 650 million euros. Title varies slightly to 16.05 euros.

Eurazeo announced Saturday that entered into exclusive negotiations with the U.S. fund Carlyle for the sale of the hotel chain B & B.Eurazeo gaining 1.74% to 49.73 euros.

The construction group Vinci (2.44% to 38.05 euros) was selected Friday by the Government for the concession and the construction of the airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, who should take over from 2017 the air service from Nantes-Atlantique.

Areva (-2.96% to 354 euros) on Friday, as expected, half results penalized by an additional provision under the Finnish EPR OL3, but confirmed its 2010 targets.

Eiffage (2.21% to 39.57 euros) published a quarterly revenue up 2.2% and said its order book stood at EUR 10.8 billion at July 1 ( +4.4% at constant since 1 April 2010), more than 11 months of activity.

APRR (stable) – The Socialist leader Arnaud Montebourg said it had seized the financial markets authority (AMF) to try and block the delisting of Autoroutes Paris Rhin Rhone (APRR) requested by Eiffarie, a joint venture of Eiffage and the Australian Macquarie Group

Wall Street has suffered some profit-taking

Always worried about the pace of recovery in the United States, and after six trading sessions in the green, the U.S. stock markets fell on Thursday.

After an opening in the green, the gains were quickly erased by investors who took their bénéfcies. Thus, at the close, the Dow Jones down 0.30% to 10,446.85 points.

Yet on Thursday, enrollment weekly unemployment fell slightly more than expected in the United States during the week to July 24, at 457 000 468 000 cons (revised) the previous week, said Thursday the Labor Department.

But the Fed Beige Book released Wednesday evening has reported a recovery in global economy.But two of the twelve regional branches of the Fed said the pace of activity has slowed recently, Chicago and Atlanta, and two others have found a stable economic situation in Cleveland and Kansas City.

The primary appointment of the week is expected Friday with the first estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) which will attract the attention of investors.

Symantec picks

On the side of values, Visa (-4.32% to 71.93 U.S. dollars) yesterday issued a profit after the close of U.S. $ 716 million, or 96 cents per share, against 93 cents expected by analysts. The group's turnover is up 23% to $ 2 billion against $ 1.97 billion expected by analysts.

The publisher of Symantec Antivirus (-11.18% to 13.03 dollars) has announced an increase in its profit to 161 million dollars against 74 million last year.But the disappointment comes from the software storage management data that represent 36% of sales. The activity is down 5%. For the current quarter, the group revised downward its revenue were planning.

U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil (1% to 60.3 U.S. dollars) on Thursday posted a net profit nearly doubled on a year in the second quarter to 7.560 billion dollars, thanks to improved refining margins and higher prices hydrocarbons. Net income group share stood at 7.560 billion dollars against 3.950 billion a year earlier (+91%).

In contrast, Kellogg is sanctioned: -6.89% to 47.98 dollars. The U.S. food group said on Thursday doing worse than expected for the second quarter of 2010 due to the weakness of the grain market and declining sales of its Eggo brand.The Group's net profit fell 15% to 302 million dollars. Net sales declined 5% to 3.1 billion dollars.

Also severely punished: Colgate Palmolive (-6.74% to 78.12 dollars) with worldwide sales rose 2% to 3.81 billion dollars. Prices rose 0.5% globally, with a negative effect of exchange rate fluctuations, the company said in a statement. Its net profit grew 7% in the second quarter of 2010, to 603 million.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (-5.77% to 11.26 dollars) reported better than expected quarterly results Thursday in favor of growing its revenue and earnings generated by its business in North America , thus raising its stock exchange.The leading U.S. manufacturer of tires reported a second quarter net income of $ 28 million (21 million euros), or 11 cents per share, against a net loss of $ 221 million a year ago ( 92 cents per share).

For its part, the selling group in U.S. online Amazon (-0.23%% to 116.86 dollars) has launched two new models of its Kindle reading shelf.

Always on the side of values, the car rental company Avis (7.22% to 11.88 dollars) amounted Wednesday its bid for rival Dollar Thrifty, with 13.4% more than Hertz, 1.33 billion in cash and stock, hoping to cut short the agreement between Hertz and Dollar in April.

Also note, Chris Viehbacher boss Sanofi Aventis (-0.54% to 29.31 dollars) has confirmed that group continued to explore possible "small or medium-sized" acquisitions.He declined to comment on rumors about the interests of U.S. biotech group Genzyme. Earlier in the morning, sources cited by Reuters said that the laboratory intends to make a formal offer on Genzyme after the failure of his informal approach on U.S. biotech specializing in the treatment of orphan diseases.

According to Bloomberg, the board of Sanofi has authorized management to offer up to $ 70 per share, an offer that values Genzyme $ 18.7 billion.

The Fund is aimed at China

Meeting Monday in Washington, the directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on China to rebalance its growth. It is now driven by exports and investment, and little by domestic demand. Even if the consumption figures were revised upwards for 2009, growth in domestic demand remains a key challenge for the government, with control of inflation in property prices. In this regard, the IMF welcomes the measures taken by Beijing and noted that "additional measures may be needed to address this problem at its root.

Some members of the IMF estimate that a stronger currency would help China to rebalance its growth, expected by the institution in 2010 to 10.5% and 9.6% in 2011. Economists have however been divided on the issue of undervaluation of the yuan.In fact, six weeks after announcing the easing of exchange rate policy, China continues to monitor closely the movements of its currency, which gained less than 1% against the greenback.

The end of the docking of the renminbi to the dollar opened, at least, the prospects in Shanghai as an international financial center potential. Guangdong Development Bank, based in Canton, bet on this option and will move its bond traders and exchange rate regime in the economic capital of China.

Apple has a patch on his iPhone 4

… No need to tape to deal with the default antenna of the iPhone 4. Apple has another solution. His boss, Steve Jobs, under fire from critics, spoke Friday night from Cupertino, California to restore the credibility of the company. To begin, he conceded that his group was "not perfect". He then unveiled the solution to solve the problem of signal loss when the hand covers the bottom left of the iPhone. The solution? A simple plastic case and rubber will be offered to owners of Apple's new smartphone. Better, this case, which costs $ 29 in trade, will be refunded to those that have already bought one. And if all this were not enough for dissatisfied customers, they could also make their free iPhone 4 in stores.

If customers are reassured, investors too. The Apple stock has returned to the green.For financiers feared that Apple chooses instead to conduct a recall of 3,000,000 iPhones already sold since the launch on June 24 It must be said that such an option would cost around 1.5 billion dollars to the firm at the apple instead of 45 million cases for the "magic".

Verdict reassuring

The American magazine Consumer Product tested the case in question this week in the laboratory and concluded that this solution was acceptable. The "bible" of consumers who had inflicted the fatal blow to Apple last Monday discouraging consumers to buy the iPhone 4, returned a verdict for Apple reassuring."When we gave the case and put our finger on the rubber part where it covers the gap (problem), resulting in a significant loss of reception, so small as to have no effect on the receipt, "says the magazine.

The New York Times suggests that it is not a simple problem of antenna and metal frame, but communication software. Citing an unnamed source familiar with the matter, the newspaper said that the iPhone has four public discovers a defect inherent in all of its predecessors."The problems occurred in the complex interplay between communications software and antenna," the source said, adding that it could be solved with a software update and that Steve Jobs was not aware of this problem before the launch of the device in late June.

Reputation tarnished

This failure has nothing to do with the error display signal reception originally put forward by Apple as the cause of the problem of the antenna and set this week.

Still, the reputation of Apple and its founder is seriously tarnished by this affair. Especially since Steve Jobs, who initially denied the failure of his latest "toy" had long been aware of the situation but have decided to ignore the recommendations of its engineers, as he liked the new design, according to Bloomberg . What the person denies.Sin of pride? Consumers expecting at least Friday a little humility on his part.

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Dunkirk refinery: Total cons-attack

The decision does not surprise employees. According to union sources on Saturday, Total has initiated proceedings before the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Nanterre to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal of Douai forcing it to reopen its Dunkirk refinery. The oil group has assigned Friday the employee representative bodies in order to ask the court not to restart the activity on the site.

Total wants a declaration that the information and consultation procedure has been "completed". And even if the court believes that the procedure was "initiated with delay", Total highlights the fact that "the employee representative bodies have been able to exercise all powers vested in them" and they have suffered "no harm".

"Their last cartridges"

For Philippe Wullens, Delegate South (majority site), this reaction was expected faxless cash advances. Management would have announced in June that it would form a further appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal. According to Steward, the leaders of Total fired "one of their last cartridge." Roger Koskas, counsel employees, estimates that total attempts to circumvent the decision by the Court of Appeal of Douai. Beside him, his brother, Patrick Tillie declares itself "not too pessimistic."

The hearing will be held September 17. According to two lawyers, Total has so far done nothing to comply with the decision of the Court of Appeal, despite a daily fine of 100,000 euros. For the moment, neither the group nor his lawyers could not be reached.

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Rising house prices worries Appeared

Secretary of State for Housing returns including the removal of stacking individual housing for students and the half-tax share for dependent children.

LE FIGARO. – Do you react when prices of the older building are divided on the rise?

Benoist appeared. – These price increases are not good. What can be done to curb them? First, hire a real estate policy. Today, there is not enough land available. And that contributes to higher prices. We are moving ahead on the transparency of real estate prices. Currently, there are so many statistics that no one is confused. To provide clarity, we label the most reliable statistics. Finally, we are working on increasing housing supply in areas strained.Because if prices rise faster in Paris (15% in one year) than in France (+8.5%) (as Century 21, Ed), is that supply is insufficient. For example, in the next aid reform homeownership, people who buy new in the tension zone will be helped more than those who buy into the old to the same place. This will encourage developers to produce more housing.

The removal of stacking individual housing for students and the half-tax share for dependent children is debatable. Why did you make that decision?

It's a fairness issue. Families choose the device which is more favorable. The PLA is the only student for personal housing without means testing. Today, 535,000 homes add to the LPA half share in the income tax.Obviously, this does not affect the poorest households, who pay no income tax. And the higher the income, the higher the benefit of the half-tax share is important. We wanted to put an end to this combination. Now he must choose between the PLA or the half-tax share. According to our estimates, 70% of households will retain the PLA, the more financially attractive. This measure will come into effect in September 2011. And allow the state to save $ 200 million.

The contribution of EUR 340 million requested for social landlords has also brought controversy. How do you explain that?

This measure allows the equalization of implementing a major goal: to build more where the needs are! Of the 800 social landlords, 10% to 15% build and invest very little. In the middle, we call them "plump dormant.Especially we ask for them in 2011 an effort of solidarity to implement this equalization of 340 million euros. These amounts will be redistributed to many social landlords who build in areas where land is expensive and where the needs are increasingly important. For this contribution does not result in an excessive increase in rents, I hope the IRL (benchmark rents) is now a target growth that social landlords will not exceed.

How do you respond to social landlords who say it will lead them to build 20,000 homes in less than in 2011?

In late 2008, donors had social capital of 6.5 billion euros. That still leaves them real freedom of maneuver. Furthermore, the terms of participation and redistribution of these 340 million will be discussed with the world HLM.But we will maintain our high level of funding for social housing with government intervention 10 billion.

In 2011, Action Housing (formerly 1% Housing) Will there still subsidized to the tune of 1.25 billion euros the National Housing Agency and the national agency for urban renewal?

Yes and it's not a surprise. This contribution of 1.25 billion was provided for three years from 2009 to 2011. This will keep the government's commitments in the fight against fuel poverty, urban renewal, renovation of old neighborhoods and degraded fight against substandard housing. Already, we are discussing with Action Housing to determine its future contributions. And we have no plans to increase it.

The Deposit and the state trying to find a prize at the Position

"This is our operation this year." Michel Bouvard, MP (UMP) who chairs the supervisory board of Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC), sets the tone: the entry of public institution with a capital of La Poste is in itself that the Fund invests typically one year. The frame is fixed by law: The Post will benefit from a capital increase of 2.7 billion euros, 1.2 billion provided by the state, and 1.5 billion from the Fund. Must still agree on the value of the Post Office to determine what will be the level of participation of the CDC in its capital.

Twice a week since the beginning of the month, teams from the Fund – backed by Lazard and Morgan Stanley, helping Gimar Finance Supervisory Commission – and those of the Agency for State Holdings (advised by HSBC), compare analysis.Condemned, by law, to agree, the two pockets of the state does not want to go to war. No way to dwell on a range of recovery – a "fork" as an actor in the negotiations – which, however, reveals a gap of one to five.

The Post valued at 1.8 billion euros

Reportedly, in fact, the "buyer" – CDC – valued at this stage, the post office to 1.8 billion euros, including debt, when the "seller", the State, shows 9.5 billion. The discussion, in fact, is to converge to a value of The Post to be that of its own funds (4.1 billion euros at end 2009).The work involved with the management of La Poste – CEO Jean-Paul Bailly plate before the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund on June 23 – and the EPA have already been able to fill a (small) part of gap.

Concordant sources, Bercy proposes to extend the revenue projections and results of the public company beyond 2015, the end of the current strategic plan, focusing on the extension of subsidies for the distribution of the press, Accessibility bank or land use. This involves taking a very long-term bet, even though projections for five years been based on optimistic assumptions, as stated by the Court of Auditors paydayloans.

For example, the public company anticipates a replacement for four retirements, two times less than in 2009.It sits on a decrease of 30% "only" the volume of business mail by 2015, when erosion caused by traditional Internet this activity has accelerated with the crisis.

"Prudent investor"

The financial trajectory, finally, projects a growth of 5 to 6% of revenues the Postal Bank in the period, based on a scenario of "macro" rather rosy, particularly in terms of changes in interest rates. She bet – she is not alone – a tightening of prudential regulations on international (Basel 3) which would cost only 500 million of equity to its subsidiary … These are all the more crucial that La Banque Postale represents alone worth more than 8 billion euros.On it depends on price which its parent.

To justify the target value, the arguments must be strong: the CDC should behave "prudent investor, in strict compliance with its property interests." Especially, the recapitalization not be considered state aid by Brussels. During the presentation of the report of the supervisory committee, Michel Bouvard reiterated the goal: the investment must provide a perspective of profitability similar to the average of the other assets of CDC. "We want to secure our investment in case of degraded scenario," he says.

The Fund negotiates as a shareholder pact that would endorse the joint control with the State on the public company, it takes 25 or 35% of the capital. "The state is more favorable to have the CDC in a strong position as shareholder," says one close to the matter.The Fund would have four directors, an involvement in appointing the CEO, and a veto not only on large investments, but also the most common big decisions, like budget.