Halal or not halal. Since the controversy launched by Marine Le Pen, before the cuts of meat, the question arises. In response, Nicolas Sarkozy wants a clear distinction between the classical deduction, that is to say, after stunning the animal, and depression according to Muslim ritual or Jewish, is very funny. "We recognize everyone's right to know what he eats, halal or not. I therefore wish the labeling of meat according to the method of slaughter, "said the head of state on Saturday during his meeting in Bordeaux.

An announcement of the president candidate is a surprise: there is only one week, the government has withdrawn a bill (with a leader Françoise Hostalier, MP North UMP) up very precisely in this sense. Recently, also, the Agriculture Minister Bruno Le Maire recalled that it was not "stigmatize" the affected communities, bolstering the positions-very-powerful clerics and the food industry, which fears that such labels do disrupt the meat market. In 2010, another member Nicolas Dhuicq, the UMP too, suffered the same setbacks, still under government pressure.

Labeling unlikely

Today, the labeling of halal products is not mandatory. The "Halal" appears prominently on thousands of products, and proves to be an excellent marketing strategy. Nevertheless, it is nothing regulatory. In other words, you can eat a product marked "halal" is really without his. And you can also consume a product that is not stamped "halal", but he is yet.

Label products to better distinguish them, the solution seems simple. But only in theory because in practice the regulatory framework does not allow it. This would, in the same way as for the AB logo affixed to the products of organic farming, that Europe gives the green light. For labeling becomes mandatory, the proposal would have "obtain a qualified majority of the European Commission and Parliament," assures us there at the Ministry of Agriculture.

But Europe has already said no: in 2009, the debate on the conditions of slaughter was then opened, and in 2011, consumer information, "but this has not been retained, while several states EU did not see the need, "says one cabinet ministry, even if the pressure of industrialists and representatives of Jewish and Muslim communities is also denounced. If Spain and Lithuania have defended such a project, others are turned. Sweden and Austria, for example, the ritual slaughter as it is even forbidden, these important country all their halal or kosher.

A risk of rising prices

Thus, if the labeling became mandatory method of slaughter, an ox killed without stunning is cataloged "halal" or "kosher" from head to toe. Or for example, according to Jewish tradition, only the "top" of the beast can be consumed. The rest – the back – going on in the conventional circuit. Thus, a tab or a bib, that Jews do not eat, labeled "very funny" could remain on the shelves. The butchers are concerned about having to sell off the pieces. And these losses through higher prices elsewhere.

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It is a repudiation for the Competition Authority. The institution, which had inflicted 385 million euro fine in September 2010 with the main banks operating in France on their pricing of check processing, has seen its decision questioned by the Court of Appeal of Paris. In a ruling Thursday, the latter took the view that in this case, "the grievances of Understanding (…) can not be accepted" and that the banks concerned "should therefore be exonerated ".

The case dates back to the early 2000s, when banks have embarked on the computerization of processing checks. They are then granted to establish interchange fees, naturally passed on to end customers.

Fines must be repaid to banks

Banks have justified the introduction of these fees, which were abolished in 2007, the cost that they accounted for the modernization effort of check processing. One argument considered to be unfounded by corporate treasurers, who saw the impact fees.

In September 2010, the Competition Authority found in favor of the latter, and denounced an agreement on final prices. A vision not shared by the Court of Appeal of Paris, sought by banks complained, BPCE, Post Bank, BNP-Paribas, the National Confederation of Credit Mutuel, Crédit Agricole, Crédit du Nord, CIC, LCL HSBC France, Societe Generale.

In its reasoning, it considers that the commissions were "directly related to the new system paperless exchange of checks, public interest project neutral in terms of competition law …". It also believes that the Bank Agreement does not constitute "an agreement on final prices."

The Competition Authority may lodge an appeal. When asked, a spokesman said the institution consider what action would give the matter. Fines paid to the Treasury must be repaid to the banks.  

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Visa Europe and MasterCard compete imagination to make their cards more attractive. Thus, Visa deploys a program of benefits for some 4.2 million Visa cardholders Prime. They now benefit from price reductions in a list of partner stores (Sephora, Lapeyre, Opinion …) by simply presenting a coupon to download on the Internet (visa.fr). April 1, this program will be expanded to Lenotre, ready-to-wear or Bensimon to Nature and Discovery. "Historically, the world of credit cards was rather that of the travel and leisure. Now the goal is to approach the everyday consumer, "says Catherine Soubirou, partnership manager at Visa Europe. MasterCard, meanwhile, has developed an online shopping mall which also offers discounts to holders of the Gold card.

But for the most prestigious cards, these benefits are not enough. The 150,000 holders of a Visa Infinite card will then be offered, to April 1, new services very chic. As Jet Taxi, which for 2200 euros an hour, take four people in Le Bourget to the destination of their choice. Or the opportunity to attend events are difficult to access (the Grand Prix of Monaco Formula 1, the Cannes Film Festival …).

Extensions guarantees

Open doors to places or events was the confidential trademark of the very VIP Centurion Card from American Express. The same idea will wow now the holders of other cards. MasterCard has already embarked on this path, imagining private parties for its Platinum card holders who dream of visiting a quiet art exhibitions or attend concerts circle Payday advance. A taste for the Parisians, what awaits them when Paris will join the Priceless Cities program, launched by MasterCard in New York last summer and launched from London and Toronto. It offers cardholders Platinum – but for some offers, a Gold – privileges: previews or priority seating for events to, in the highest rated restaurants

.

"Exclusive offers, which consumers aspire today," says Francois Gandon, marketing manager of MasterCard France. Thus, the card interest is not limited to insurance they offer … even if they are perfected. Visa is for example to review his.  

The foreign assistance was not playing in the event of natural disaster? This exclusion has been removed. Children of divorced or separated parents received guarantees only if the parent traveling with the cardholder? They are now protected even if they move without him. "The goal is to avoid maximum disappointment of our customers, guarantees on misunderstood or exclusions that surprise them," says Emmanuel Robert, head of product offers from Visa Europe France.

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The fear of a slowing Chinese economy weigh on Asian stock markets. On Tuesday, the day after a session, however encouraging, the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong and Shanghai Composite Index unleash respectively 3.52% and 1.52 points to 18,209.70% to 2403.32 points. Investors react to the publication of a slowdown in Chinese growth to 9.1% in the third quarter, against 9.7% and 9.5% in the first and second quarters.After this bad figure, other regional financial centers are also displayed down: the Nikkei of the Tokyo Stock Exchange lost 1.55% to 8741.91 points, the Kospi index in Seoul fell by 1.51% to 1837.01 points, the S & P / ASX 200 Index yields 2.07% at Sydney 4186.90 points, the BSE Sensex 30 in Mumbai plaice 1.73% to 16,730.10 points and the FTSE Straits Times of Singapore gives up 1.81% to 2728 , 55 points.

"Economic growth is currently facing a more complicated on both external and internal plans," said the spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Sheng Laiyun commenting on the growth of China. In fact, Chinese exporters are beginning to suffer from particular sovereign debt crisis in Europe, their largest market, a difficult economic situation in the United States.The Chinese economy is also impacted by rising wages and strong yuan, has appreciated by 7% in a year against the dollar. "The number of factors of instability and uncertainty increases," says Sheng Laiyun.

The concern weighing on Europe

In this context, the correct figures for China's industrial production have gone unnoticed. This has increased by 13.8% in September year on year, according to BNS.

In addition, concerns about the debt crisis in Europe grew yesterday and weigh Surles markets payday loan lenders. The German Minister of Economics Wolfgang Schäuble has indeed warned that the EU summit to be held in Brussels Sunday will not lead to a definitive solution to the debt crisis. And, while the central bankers of the euro zone had promised a response "comprehensive and lasting peace" to the crisis at the G20 finance this weekend in Paris.

China Eastern Airlines to Hong Kong and Tepco

On the corporate side, China Eastern Airlines (-9.82% to 2.57 Hong Kong dollars) on Monday announced an agreement to acquire 15 Airbus A330 family for a selected list price of $ 2.5 billion, for delivery between 2013 and 2015.

The action of the firm Olympus camera dropped by a further 8.87% to 1.417 yen to the Tokyo Stock Exchange, bringing to 43% since the sudden collapse of his dismissal Friday of its British CEO accused of mismanagement President Honorary Japanese company.

Note that Tepco, the operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, yields 1.38% in Tokyo, after asking the first tranche of public assistance of some 700 billion yen (6.7 billion euros) for finance part of the compensation of victims, according to Japanese media on Tuesday.

On the front of currencies, the euro rose 0.28% to 1.377 dollars on Tuesday. Oil is meanwhile down in Asia after the confirmation of a slowdown in Chinese growth in the third quarter against a backdrop of skepticism about a speedy resolution of sovereign debt crisis in the euro area. The barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in November, up in the early electronic trading, lost 9 cents to 86.29 dollars, around 6:00.

The stock market bounce this week has been facilitated by the concerted action of major central banks. The markets now await a response to the crisis of the euro and they still fear a return to recession is not yet integrated into the course.

• Central banks have put out the fire. Policy is to act.

To rebound, stock markets were expecting a strong gesture. A kind of kick in the bottom of the pool after the distressing spectacle of the leaders of member countries of the euro unable to agree on rescue Greece. The first impetus was given by central banks that have decided to tackle the funding problems of European banks. By providing all the liquidity they need dollars, they have the most urgent and avoided a new banking crisis. But the most difficult tasks lie ahead.For central banks are independent organizations, they therefore have the flexibility of movement that do not have the seventeen Member States of the euro. Now it is in the field of European governance, the ability of states to reduce their debt and the solidity of the European financial stability that is expected the euro area. Subjects whose implementation is far from certain and have not finished putting markets under pressure.

• Focus on growth, defensive stocks do not pay more.

The crash of August brought down one of the last great stock market myth: the resilience of defensive stocks in times of crisis. The numbers speak for themselves: Veolia Environnement and Suez, specializing in utilities, a sector traditionally very defensive, yielded 42 and 20% over the last three months.EDF and GDF Suez lost their next 18 and 12%. France Telecom, Vivendi and Vinci also fell sharply. During the summer, these values ​​have not only shown no ability to resist, but they often fell as much as "cyclical" as Lafarge, ArcelorMittal, Saint-Gobain or Peugeot. The only values ​​that really are resilient growth companies in these emerging countries have low debt and strong brands. LVMH is the case, Essilor International, SEB, Air Liquide, Bic or Hermes International. The clear market preference for growth stocks at the expense of defense is not surprising in times of crisis. It is precisely because investors fear a slowdown in the richer countries, that growth is so sought after by scholars.The famous guru of Wall Street, the American Peter Lynch, who long prospered the famous Magellan fund, has shown: in the long run, only the values ​​of growth are able to enrich shareholders. His motto: there is no fortune by multiplying the stock market moves, but the success by joining the best companies at the time.

• Economists fear a growing recession in the United States.

The euro crisis is not the only concern of the operators. According to a survey by the Wall Street Journal on a panel of 53 economists, they believe that there is one chance in three that the United States fell into recession in the next twelve months. This sharp deterioration in business expectations is a bad omen.American economists believe the Fed will be reactive at its meeting on 20 September, but they doubt the effectiveness of measures taken to revive the business. The survey, closely watched by traders on Wall Street, the trend weakens. Especially when we know that this feeling is shared by consumers, which contributes 70% to U.S. GDP.

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The CAC 40 is unable to bounce back on Monday. The benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange, which closed Friday on the day of a severe fall of 3.6% continues this trend. At the opening, he gave up 2.41% to 3072.51 points. The movement is the same in the rest of Europe in London, the FTSE-100 index lost 1.43%, in Frankfurt the Dax was down 2.32% and 2.22% loose up Milan.

The first global economy has fueled fears of a global slowdown by announcing Friday it had no jobs created in August, while analysts expected 70 000 net hires. "The U.S. employment figures for August suggest that the labor market seems to be moint death," said Victor Shum this morning, an analyst at Purvin and Gertz in Singapore.

Following this announcement, Wall Street closed on a sharp drop of more than 2%.U.S. markets will do on Monday with European stock any procedure they will remain closed for Labor Day (Labor Day observed every first Monday of September). "Wall Street remains closed doors, it seems unlikely that operators take the slightest risk," said Chris Weston, an analyst at IG Markets.

Asian stock markets have instead given with a negative pulse of the market in red. Operators in the region have learned that HSBC index of purchasing managers in the Chinese sector services slowed to an unprecedented low in August. Seasonally adjusted and calculated by the Institute Markit, it fell to 50.6 after 53.5 in July.

No other indicator may move the index is also expected on Monday.One highlight of the week will be the release of the Beige Book Fed on Wednesday night, which will be the summary of economic conditions in regions in the United States.

No recession expected in Europe

The side of the euro area, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, has tried to reassure investors. Traveling in Australia, he said that the European economy would experience in the coming months a "moderate growth" without going into recession. "We do not anticipate a recession in Europe. The latest forecasts from the European Commission show that the growth will be at the meeting, although this growth will be moderate, it is true, "he said in Sydney.

The comments of the Head of the EU executive echoed the lowering of forecasts rating agency Standard & Poor's for the European economy last week.The decision to resurface concerns about the health of the area and the problems of sovereign debt. "We do it all, the fight against fiscal problems underlying the strengthening of the governance of the eurozone, the introduction of stricter financial regulation to improve our overall readiness" said José Manuel Barroso.

In morning trading, the euro rising slightly against the dollar at 1.4160 dollar. However, it is dropped in morning trading to a low of three weeks, at 1.4138 dollars against 1.4198 at Friday close in New York.

For their part, oil prices were down in electronic trading in Asia, depressed by the poor figures on employment in the United States.A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October lost 59 cents to 85.86 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery 74 cents to 111.59 dollars.

Values ​​to follow

Societe Generale: -5.26% to 21.05 euros (largest decrease in the ACC)

The U.S. federal agency oversight of mortgage filed a complaint Friday against 17 major international financial institutions which include the French bank, for a total loss of $ 41 billion in bonds linked to subprime.

In its wake, BNP Paribas lost 4.98% to 31.75 euros, Crédit Agricole 3.67% to 5.95 euros and 3.09% at Axa 10.20 euros.

Safran: -2.78% to 26.25 euros; Natixis: -3.87% to 2.60 euros

Safran's aerospace equipment will make its entry into the CAC 40 index, while the bank Natixis is about to leave, said Friday the Scientific Council of the indices of NYSE Euronext. The changes take effect Sept. 19.

EDF: -2.70% to 20.38 euros

The Italian Minister of Industry, Paolo Romani, said Sunday he would meet Monday Proglio about the power company Edison.

ArcelorMittal: -2.87% to 13.72 euros

Peabody Energy and ArcelorMittal announced Monday it had extended until September 27, the period during which the short bid for $ 5 billion (3.53 billion euros) on the Australian Macarthur Coal.

Zodiac: -1.67% to 54.20 euros

The group said it had completed the acquisition of the American Heath Tecna and have reached an agreement with its banks to raise 300 million euros the amount of an existing credit line.

Schneider Electric: -4.80% to 41.89 euros

The French government intervened with the company to freeze a plan for the removal of one.000 temporary positions, the daily Liberation in its Monday edition, but the group has firmly denied to AFP such a plan.

Saft: 9.81% to 23.96 euros (largest increase in the SBF 120)

The American automotive supplier Johnson Controls will pay $ 145 million (102 million euros) to the French specialist in batteries as part of an amicable agreement ending their joint venture in the automotive industry, announced Friday the two groups in a joint statement.

Alstom: -4.07% to 29.55 euros

The group signed a 66 million euros with Iraq to build a power plant in the province of Nineveh in the north, said the Iraqi Minister of Electricity.

France Telecom: -1.87% to 12.33 euros

TPSA its Polish subsidiary has announced to contest the fine of 128 million euros that inflicted the European Commission.

After market, environment and Dried Assystem unveil their first-half results.

The Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou said today to be sure that his party would leave Greece to the economic crisis and debt at the national conference of the Greek socialist party (PASOK). "We continue the battle, not only because we believe that there is no alternative, but because we trust in our capabilities in the capabilities of Hellenism, in the possibilities of our country .I'm sure we will succeed, "he said in his speech.

2013 Goals

"People will judge us in 2013, and until then, we not only managed to get Greece to the crisis, but we have also implemented many important reforms that will lay the foundation for a different evolution of Greece in the future, "he said, cutting short the rumors of early elections.

The Prime Minister also accused the previous Conservative government to be primarily responsible for the current financial crisis. The spokesman for the main opposition party New Democracy, Yannis Mihelakis, immediately reacted. "He (George Papandreou) recognizes the economic impasse, but says nothing about its policy, which destroyed the economy and society," he retorted.In a report released Wednesday, a parliamentary commission of experts also found that the debt was Faxless payday loans.

"Satisfactory progress"

Last year, Athens has received an aid package of 110 billion euros of the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At their summit on 21 July, the euro zone countries have agreed to pay a new loan, plus a share of the private sector on a voluntary basis, for a total of 50 billion euros. Representatives of the "Troika" (EU, ECB and IMF) mission in Athens Friday to advance structural reforms in the country.

Several media have interpreted the departure precipitated considered representatives of the EU, the IMF and the ECB as a clash with the Greek Government on the extent of the effort to provide rigor to continue fiscal consolidation.But such a break was denied both by the Ministry of Finance by the troika.

She spoke in a statement of "good progress" in talks, saying had "temporarily left Athens" to "allow the authorities to complete their technical work" related "to the 2012 budget and structural policies to strengthen growth."

(With AFP)

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The majority union of airline pilots, the SNPL, announced Thursday night that he raised his notice for the strike that was scheduled for August 5 to 8. This announcement follows the government's decision to follow the recommendations of the mediator.

In its report issued on Thursday, the mediator Raphaël Hadas-Lebel makes proposals for the reform of the pension fund of the crew – and the conflict is necessary because the reserves are diminishing – is done in a more progressive, giving more visibility long term and encourages staff to extend their business no fax payday loans.

In the wake of the submission of this report, Xavier Bertrand and Thierry Mariani sent a letter Thursday to the unions.Proposals Raphael Hadas-Lebel "seem integrate the concerns of various parties" and "achieve a balanced reform bill," wrote the Ministers of Labour and Transport, who are committed to apply on January 1.

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The difference is certainly on the thickness of the line but it still twists his neck to popular belief. An evaluation of the Ministry of Labour with the redeployment of unemployed Le Figaro has obtained, employment center gets better results that private placement (OPP) to which the accompaniment of hundreds of thousands of job seekers job was outsourced. In other words, the public would be more effective than the private sector to find new jobs for the unemployed.

This assessment focuses on two categories of job seekers who have benefited, in November 2009 and March 2010, a reinforced support: the unemployed far removed from the market (long-term, seniors …) and CTP-fired economic CRP (devices for one year guaranteeing a subsidy equivalent to 80% of the last gross wage). Just under 5000 people were interviewed.In both cases, the rate of return to work thirteen months after the start of the support is higher for employment center.

47% of retrenched in CTP-CRP followed by public service employment benefit and employment (employed or not), against 43% for those followed by a private placement (employment agency, company … reclassification). Less than one in three point still unemployed after thirteen months, against 38% for a PPO. The private sector, which offers support more regular and reinforced, in the end proves better than the public service on one point: the rate of CDI won, higher than 5 points to the result displayed by employment center.

More CDI

The difference is greater for the second cohort of unemployed: the unemployed far removed from the labor market.49% are employed and thirteen months after the start of their employment center for support, against 43% for those followed by a PPO. Unlike the retrenched, the CDI rate is even higher in the public service (44% against 39%). Worse, the number of unemployed, thirteen months after the start of the accompaniment, are higher in PPOs (45% against 41%).

These results revive the controversy over the use of OPP – the cost of an unemployed investment returns twice as expensive (2200 euros on average per year, against 1100 at employment center) – to relieve the crews of the public service of employment in case of downturn. The popular option is to use only an "outsourcing of specialty", on a more targeted, less numerous and where the added value of OPP is proven. Should, in this case, review their terms of payment by paying more in income.PPOs now affecting half of their performance in support of an unemployed, 25% when in use and 25% if there is still six months later. The idea is often put forward to move to a 35% share in the care and placement for 65% effective (against today 50/50). A useful discussion since the OPP always accompany nearly 150,000 job seekers.

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Barack Obama sought Monday to change the tone of the negotiations on reducing the budget deficit. "I am ready to face criticism from Democrats for an agreement that allows to raise the debt ceiling," said Monday the president of the United States, before resuming discussions with congressional leaders have fallen into the impasse. "We will reach agreement before August 2," promised the president at a press conference.

Placing himself as an arbiter between the two factions partisan, Barack Obama said: "The Republicans are going to have to compromise, as the Democrats." He hoped that the negotiations continue "all day", "until a solution is found."

Their challenge is twofold. The first is to adopt a compromise that reduces the medium to long-term U.S. budget deficits.But the compromise also depends on the adoption by August 2 of a law that raises the ceiling for the debt of the United States. Otherwise, the U.S. Treasury would no longer issue the bonds needed to honor the debts of Uncle Sam was general such a defect of the United States would have catastrophic consequences for the entire global economy.

Avoiding tax increases

During the weekend negotiations have stalled or even declined. Democrats accuse Republicans of blocking any agreement by refusing the principle of tax increases. For their part, Republicans reject the approach proposed by Barack Obama on an ambitious four trillion dollars in savings over ten years.They are rather a compromise of around 2 trillion, thinking to keep their campaign promise to block any tax increase.

To complicate matters, the elected Democrats have their doubts about the path traced by the White House. Barack Obama asks them, in fact, painful concessions in the form of savings in programs popular pension and health care. Yet the Democrats do not want to pay the price in the November 2012 legislative concessions that make a great historical compromise personal serving the cause of Barack Obama but not his party.In addition, the recent rise in unemployment leads them to reconsider their promise to reduce government spending made a few weeks ago as part of negotiations led by the then vice president, Joe Biden.

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