Despite the announcement of a sluggish growth for the euro area, the Paris Bourse on course. After being shoved in the afternoon, following the announcement of lower growth expectations than expected for the euro area, the CAC 40 has finally completed the session in the green, slightly below 3100 points.
After increasing by 0.63% in mid day, the CAC 40 dropped 0.9% in the afternoon, in response to the correction of growth forecasts for the euro area European Central Bank (ECB) . But late in the session, the index gradually returned in the green, gleaning 0.41% to 3085.83 points. On other European financial centers, the London Stock Exchange finished the session up, the FTSE-100 index took 0.41% to 3085.83 points. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is on his side remained more hesitant, the Dax closed at balance, 5408.46 points (0.05%).
Not surprisingly, the ECB rate remained at current levels, at 1.5%. But the European Central Bank has revised downwards its growth forecast Thursday for the euro area, and taking note of the recent negative developments in the economy and the mood in financial markets. The ECB now sees growth of 1.6% in 2011 for the euro area. However in June it had the opposite raised its forecast to 1.9%. For 2012 it expects growth of 1.3% against 1.7% previously. Inflation expectations remain unchanged at 2.6% this year and 1.7% next year.
The U.S. employment under the microscope
United States, several indicators of the health of the economy fell. Among them, the weekly jobless claims, which rose during the week to September 3, at 414,000 against 412,000 (revised) the previous week.The trade deficit for its part, declined significantly in July to $ 44.8 billion after two consecutive months above 50 billion, with an unexpected surge in exports. In addition, U.S. inventories of crude oil fell more than expected last week, revealed the U.S. Agency for Energy Information (EIA). They fell 3.96 million barrels to over 353 million, while economists had forecast a decline of 1.9 million barrels.
Two discourses are also highly expected on Thursday, those of Ben Bernanke and Barack Obama. The Fed chief will speak at around 19 am, French time, the Economic Club of Minnesota. Investors await details about how the Fed intends to support the economy.This intervention will follow the publication yesterday of its Beige Book, which again reported a moderate growth. For his part, Bush will speak on Congress to 1 am, French time, on employment and growth. It should detail a plan for employment that would reach $ 300 billion, raised yesterday by the U.S. media.
In France, growth in employment has slowed
In France, INSEE announced that the dealer paid employment decelerated in the second quarter.Principally market sectors have created a total of 33,300 jobs over the period April to June, from 78,300 in the first three months of the year, an increase of 0.2% against 0.5% the previous quarter.
The trade deficit widened further in July, reaching 6.46 billion euros in seasonally adjusted data, weighed down by a rebound in imports, Customs officials said Thursday.
Moreover, according to the OECD, economic growth in developed countries could slow sharply, see stalling in the second half and central banks must be prepared to ease monetary policy by lowering interest rates or intervening on markets.The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development predicts that growth in the G7 should not exceed 1.6% annualized in the third quarter and is expected to fall to 0.2% over the last three months of year. In France, activity is expected to increase only 0.9% and 0.4% annualized, against 1.8% and 1.9% previously expected.
On the currency side, the euro continues to widen its losses: the European currency fell to 1.3945 dollars, its lowest level since July 12.Oil, he, rising as a result of the prolonged interruption of production in the Gulf of Mexico due to tropical storm: a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 41 cents to 89.75 dollars a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery takes 18 cents to 115.98 dollars in morning trading.
Values to follow on Thursday
• Banking
Stress tests imposed on European banks have made "transparency and clarity" on the strength of their balance sheets, said Wednesday night a Treasury official in the United States.
Banks react well. Among the largest increases in Société Générale took CAC 3.72% (at 20.01 euros), BNP Paribas 4.49% (at 33.06 euros) Crédit Agricole 3.06% (at 5.92 euros).Natixis took the head of the CAC 40 (4.77% to 2.65 euros).
• Areva (-0.20% to 20.74 euros)
The French nuclear group Areva said Thursday was ready to process the spent fuel still present on the site of Fukushima and propose to the Japanese government and the company Tepco lasting solutions to manage the post accident.
• Gemalto (5.46% to 35.43 euros)
The title leads increases the SBF 120, the group is in the midst of "road show", between August 26 and September 15, analysts point out. The action bounces also important on a technical device, which accentuates the rise in the stock, analysts note charts.Since August 25, the title was up over 13%.
• EADS (-0.85% to 21.69 euros)
The group is ready to dip deep into a war chest of $ 16 billion (11.3 billion euros) to finance its expansion in the U.S. and is in preliminary discussions with several potential targets, said Wednesday its chief executive for North America.In addition, the European missile manufacturer MBDA, in part by EADS, would be forced to reduce its workforce by 400 jobs by 2015, according to La Tribune.
Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS, is also considering a third increase its production capacity in one of its scenarios for 2018 to meet demand, the success of the A320 Neo scarce slots delivery before 2020, The Tribune reported Thursday.
• TF1 (0.34% to 10.38 euros) and EuropaCorp (-0.91% to 3.90 euros)
The two groups announced Wednesday the signing of a Framework Agreement for development to produce the series in English for television.
• Ipsos: -2.20% to 26.90 euros
The group has launched a capital increase in cash of approximately 200 million euros to finance the purchase of Synovate.
• GDF Suez: + 0.32% to 20.55 euros
The group will transfer to the Italian ENI participation of 10.4% in gas fields in the North Sea to pay off debt, reported Thursday Les Echos.
• Technip: + 1.73% to 67.03 euros
In consortium with National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), the group won a contract worth about $ 500 million for engineering, procurement and construction of the project Satah Full Field Development, a field located 200 km northwest of Abu Dhabi (UAE).
• Sanofi: -0.54% to 49.65 euros
Genzyme, the biotechnology laboratory of the U.S. bought by the French group, was unable to deliver its drug Fabrazyme in August, although it promised to doctors and patients to meet this deadline.U.S. regulators have made public Wednesday letters from Genzyme dated August 26 and 25 where the laboratory apologizes to its customers and for people with Fabry disease, a rare genetic disease, for "any confusion and disturbance "caused by the delay.
• France Telecom: + 0.37% to 12.19 euros, Vivendi: -1.06% to 15.89 euros
The new tax passed by the government as part of the new austerity plan should give priority, penalize these two groups, according to Les Echos. France Telecom should be paid to these measures between 300 and 500 million. Vivendi would see him, his taxes increased from 250 to 400 million.
Next recommendation goes to Credit Suisse under-performance against neutral Ipsen (0.28% to 23.02 euros). Societe Generale goes with the purchase of Biomerieux (2.09% to 71.40 euros).