One of two blast furnaces Site Florange ArcelorMittal, stopped for two months, should eventually go back soon. According to Nicolas Sarkozy, invited this Thursday morning France Inter, the steel group had decided to resume its activity in the second half of 2012. "Florange is 2667 employees including 500 in a situation of losing their jobs" if the second blast furnace will not restart, said the head of state.

The Chairman of ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Mittal, Nicolas Sarkozy met yesterday for "a long working meeting," would also committed $ 17 million in Florange, two million for the restart of the site and 15 million for its modernization. "Seven million euros will be invested in a new gasometer and eight million to develop new products in Florange, for without going into detail, the auto market," said Nicolas Sarkozy. ArcelorMittal has confirmed this information in the morning, however, suggesting that restart "from the perspective of an economic recovery."

Chain liquid always threatened

The Indian group has repeatedly in recent weeks that the closure of the Florange was only temporary, and will ensure "maintaining activity in Lorraine." In a context of declining demand for steel, the group's director in France, Hervé Bourrier, however, lamented last week that the Florange site is less efficient than those of Fos or Dunkirk. And stated that even if you restart the site in the coming months whether to continue or not the activity would be reviewed each quarter, "depending on the backlog."

The new announcement leaves employees skeptical. "Nicolas Sarkozy announces investment for cockerie, which feeds the Dunkirk site, and for automotive production. But these two pathways are not endangered, unlike the liquid stream, "says Patrick Auzanneau CFDT union delegate. Questioned by AFP, MP PS Moselle, Michel Liebgott, advanced further than the two million investment announced for restarting the blast furnace were already known. "They were negotiated by the state in compensation it pays partial unemployment since the beginning of the year," said MP.

Ulcos project

The announcement last week of a state investment of 150 million euros was not better received. "This is something that has already been said for months, it's related to Ulcos project", explained to AFP Wednesday an official of the CFDT. The salvation for over 2600 employees, however, could come from this project, whose objective is to produce steel with less CO2. With a total cost of around 600 million euros, its viability depends on the decision of the European Commission for its funding. Arbitration should not take place before September.

ALSO READ:

"Candidates at the bedside of industrial sites threatened

"Holland is committed to employees face Florange

"Industrial Employment: the mixed success of the Government

No matter which option you are considering while doing comparisons of health insurance, you will still want to know you're getting the best price possible, so the easiest way to be sure that's happening is by getting quotes from a variety of health insurance companies.

 

Defender said most of the nuclear in government, Eric Besson was not afraid of being labeled a provocateur. This is not just a few hundred of the four reactors at the Japanese central Fukushima Daiichi destroyed by the tsunami on March 11 that the Minister of Industry on Tuesday reaffirmed that "France continues to believe in the future a nuclear with the highest standards of safety. " At the invitation of the Japanese Minister of the Environment, the young Goshi Hosono, Eric Besson is the first member of a foreign government to visit the site of the plant.

After two hours of visit, the French minister said he was "reassured by the overall situation." Precautions taken to this particular field trip, as Le Figaro followed, give a first impression otherwise. First, stop sign at the entrance to the perimeter evacuated twenty miles of the plant, the J Village. The training center of the football team of Japan has been converted into a basic life for 3,000 workers who work day and night at the bedside of the atomic plant. Village of J, departure by bus, duly equipped with a white suit, two pairs of gloves, shoe covers as many plastic full mask and two dosimeters.

No lethal dose

First observation of the Minister of Energy, "there is no strong radioactivity around the plant," he relativized. During the visit mainly by bus, with two stops, one at the foot of reactor number 4 disemboweled, Eric Besson has received a dose of 0.033 millisieverts (mSv), about 140 mSv if he stayed all year. The equivalent of seven times the annual dose permitted for an employee of nuclear power in France, and a still higher threshold to 100 mSv, above which the risk of cancer were found no fax needed payday loans. This reassured the Minister in relation to what he expected dosimetry is reduced in some villages in the forbidden zone. Mayor Kawauchi has asked the government authorization of the return of its approximately 2000 to 3000 administered at home.

Other ground of relief to Eric Besson: health outcomes unrelated to the "astronomical figures that have been circulating." If the tsunami of March 11 caused about 20,000 deaths, not one worker has received a lethal radiation dose, Akio Komori confirmed, a director at Tepco, the plant operator. Twenty-eight have received over 150 mSv, which "some more 500mSv". None of this symptom to date, according to Akio Komori. The 3000 employees who are working to ensure the cooling of reactors have restored the control of the situation. However, Akio Komori fears the consequences of a new powerful earthquake on spent fuel pools, not yet secure. Tepco said the head of three challenges: the treatment of contaminated water, soil remediation throughout the area and dismantling of the reactors.

In the situation room installed since March 11 in an earthquake-proof building of the plant, Eric Besson has launched a hundred busy workers behind their screens: "Your job, in difficult conditions, is important for the future of the sector. "A future, he added, that does not exist" without the confidence of the people. " In Japan, despite the persistence of "divers" of Tepco, that confidence has been permanently shaken.

ALSO READ:

"Loss of $ 6 billion to the electrician Tepco

"The State reaffirms its creed nuclear

"Sarkozy wants to extend the life of nuclear power plants

 

An annual net income of $ 41 billion, up 34% over one year for the staff of the majors. The American Exxon Mobil in 2011 remained the world's leading oil company. The results reflect an exceptional year for all of the hydrocarbon industry driven by a barrel of Brent posting a record annual average price of $ 112.

Altogether, the net results of the ten important are around $ 200 billion. These figures however do not prevent spectacular analysts point several concerns about "Big Oil", the nickname of Western majors. The first production. That of the leader Exxon declined 10% (400,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day), that 3% of Chevron. "BP has also disappointed," said Luca Baccarini, an analyst with Energy Funds Advisors, an investment advisory firm specializing in the oil market. "The Western majors are struggling to renew their reserves and production, he says, and position themselves increasingly to natural gas."

These are national companies of producing countries that have the greatest potential for oil production, adds substantially Luca Baccarini. And example is the Brazilian Petrobras, Russian Rosneft or Colombian Ecopetrol, companies controlled by their respective states but publicly traded. Petrobras, including a woman, Maria das Graças Foster – unprecedented in this masculine world – just take the reins, saw its annual net profit to decline by 5%. At issue: the rising costs of exploration.

Chinese acquisitions

Chinese companies for their part, became for some years now the leading players, CNOOC, PetroChina and Sinopec continue to show strong growth primarily driven by acquisitions.

In addition to slower production of international companies, analysts point out the poor health that suffers refining in Europe and the United States of overcapacity and insufficient margins. "If you are in the upstream, to drill for oil, you make money, says James Williams, WTRG Economics quoted by the Los Angeles Times. But if you are in the downstream in refining, you lose. "

In 2012, the results of the oil companies should continue to be powered by a barrel high, around $ 100 (Brent crude exceeded $ 117 Friday), especially if tensions around Iran persist. And despite a forecast of weaker global demand anticipated, depending on the monthly report of the International Energy Agency on Friday. This should increase by 0.9% in 2012, of 800,000 barrels per day, 300,000 barrels less than in the projections published in January.

After the vote of the Maltese Parliament – which unanimously passed in the night from Monday to Tuesday the agreement of 21 July on aid to Greece – Europe now has their eyes on Slovakia. The Slovak Parliament began its deliberations this morning which should lead to a vote in the early afternoon. The uncertainty is very high on the outcome of the election: the Freedom and Solidarity Party (SaS) member of the ruling coalition threatened to vote against, in fact, which would switch the winning side of the "no" with to Greece.

In the early morning, Prime Minister Iveta Radicova recognized that there was still no agreement in favor of a positive vote. The government could be forced to get a favorable vote, to offer in exchange for the organization of early elections.That is to scuttle.

Slovakia is the last state to ratify the agreement of 21 July, which must be adopted unanimously by the seventeen member countries of the euro area to take effect. If the vote is negative, in a few hours, the shock could be severe in the financial markets. Sole ground of hope, the Slovak parliamentary system allows in case of negative vote of Parliament to seek a second, which may occur on weekends and offer a last chance for negotiations.

ALSO READ:

"SPECIAL – Crisis: the fear of debt

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.

Like the Asian stock markets, although directed this morning with the exception of the financial center of Shanghai, the Cac 40 rose sharply opens on Monday. After being awarded 1.73% at the opening, following the rebound in U.S. indices Friday, the benchmark index in Paris was still moving from 1.59% to 3136.59 points in mid-session. Enough to clear the heavy losses the last two sessions.

More hesitant, other European indices begin their week on their side so volatile. Germany's DAX climbed 1.28% in mid-session after falling slightly (-0.17%) in the morning. Even the Spanish Ibex is up 1.93% after plunging by almost as much this morning.Note that the London Stock Exchange will remain closed on Monday due to holiday.

Friday, after a negative early trading, Wall Street has ended the session on gains of 1.2% for the Dow and the Nasdaq 2.5%, investors focusing on positive ads during the next meeting of the Federal Reserve in September, Ben Bernanke hinted at the conference of Jackson Hole. The anticipation of a further intervention by the Fed puts the dollar under pressure against a basket of currencies: the dollar is trading at 1.4511 dollar per euro, 1.4490 against Friday night.

And always in the context of the general economic meeting in Jackson Hole's new Executive Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, has urged this weekend to recapitalize banks. She said that the European institutions "need of urgent recapitalization."The former Minister of Economy and Finance believes that these measures are the "key to cut the chain of contagion." So new fears for the banking industry, already largely weakened during the summer.

Pending on the details of the background of aid to Greece In Greece, aid modalities are not yet fastened. Negotiations were slowed by the requirements of Finland and the new challenges of Athens, whose stock rebounded strongly on Monday, however, and accounted for up to 9% increase on mid-term, on the bottom of the side of mergers expected Greek banks, in the early afternoon.

In addition, investors seemed to adhere to about Laurence Parisot.And referring to the financial crisis, the president of the employers' association (MEDEF) estimates for its part, that "if Europe were attacked, not because it is weak but because it is strong, and if it is envied, because it is enviable, "In an interview with Le Figaro, the boss of the bosses denounced a U.S. plot against the euro area.

Irene reduced cost

Other news of the weekend: the passage of Hurricane Irene passed through New York without drama. He also was demoted to a tropical depression. U.S. markets should open smoothly and Monday. Hurricane Irene would have between 500 million and one billion dollars in damage in the Caribbean and the United States, according to catastrophe modeling firm EQECAT.A figure below the most pessimistic forecasts considered before the hurricane.

The price of Brent was down, refineries and oil terminals on the East Coast of the United States seem not to have suffered major damage, easing fears of a supply disruption. In addition, Libya resumes oil exports within a month, according to the spokesman of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (Agoco), controlled by the rebels low rates payday advance. Crude oil production will resume in mid-September on two deposits in the country. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October takes the field, to 85.46 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery stabilizes at 110.8 dollars.

Still on macroeconomic markets keep eyes turned to the other side of the Atlantic.They will learn on Monday of income and household consumption in the United States in July (1430) and promises of home sales for the same month (16.00).

The bank bounce despite the warning Lagarde

As for values, on the eve of the biannual publication of trucks from the coast (Bo uygues, Carrefour, L'Oreal, Vinci …) in mid-session, one drop was to lament among the 40 largest-cap the Paris, that of Danone (-0.34% to 45.58 euros). In addition, about Christine Lagarde did not prevent banking stocks to rebound. A technical rebound is sustainable, while the sector was the most attacked in recent weeks. Societe Generale (2.02% to 21.76%) followed by Natixis (2.08% to 2.74 euros) and Credit Agricole (0.90% to 6.47 euros) and Axa (1.27% to 10.36 euros).Finally, BNP Paribas up the rear with a more moderate increase of 1.10% to 33.93 euros.

In addition, Ingenico (1.43% to 27.26 euros) announced that it had repurchased TNET, an Italian company specializing in payment terminals, for an amount that was not disclosed. According to Ingenico, TNET manages an installed base of 45,000 terminals in Italy.

APRR observe the re-opening until September 9 of the OPR launched by Eiffage (0.95% to 30.97 euros) and Macquarie.The toll road was also noted Friday that the evolution of traffic early in the second half was mixed for light vehicles, but remained well oriented for heavy vehicles.

In addition, ING has lowered its board to maintain, against purchase, the title Arkema (0.91% to 50.38 euros) and reduced its price target on the value to 55 euros (as against 85 euros).

Canal + (0.67% to 4.37 euros) could push his plans for the IPO. While the ACC has lost nearly 20% of its value during the summer, analysts are skeptical of an imminent public offerings of media group, reports Les Echos. The listing of the 20% held by Lagardère has already been de-programmed, it could eventually sell its stake in Vivendi, the majority shareholder.

For its part Orange (France Telecom: + 1.06%, to 12.88 euros) would be in conflict with the American Cogent.The U.S. operator has, according to La Tribune, filed a complaint against his French counterpart to the competition authority for "abuse of dominant position." Orange is accused of preventing users from accessing the site MegaUpload. The conflict dates back to January so that Orange had decided to grant the account drop traffic from Cogent.

ALSO READ:

"Wall Street ends up after the speech by the Fed

"Obama, Lagarde, Bernanke for another stimulus

"Parisot denounced a U.S. plot against Europe

Caution on Asian stock markets Friday. And for good reason, investors are waiting with some anxiety the president's speech to the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke, the outlook for the U.S. economy. The markets had a first look Thursday with the increase in weekly jobless claims in the United States. They are very careful before publication at 14:30 (French time) the second estimate of GDP for the second quarter could be revised down by 0.2 point to 1.1%.

Meanwhile, the Asian financial centers are clearly hesitant and have not adopted the same direction. Thus, while the Nikkei in Tokyo Stock Exchange gleans some points (0.13%) to 8783.99 points, retreating Chinese stock markets: the Hang Seng in Hong Kong was down 0.21% to 19,710.10 points and the Shanghai CSI 300 lost 0.89% to 2877.99 points.

Japanese Prime Minister resigns

Also in Japan, criticized for his hesitation and awkwardness to the disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, has resigned as chairman of the Democratic Party of Japan, according to media Japanese instant payday loan lenders. And therefore of his duties as head of government.

On the macroeconomic front, the consumer prices in Japan rose 0.1% in July after a revised 0.2% decline in June.Analysts on average expected a further decline of 0.1%.

On the other Asian financial centers, the trend is mixed if the Taiwan TAIEX gains 0.40% at 7440.37 points, the Kospi in Seoul was up 0.47% to 1772.80 points, the BSE Sensex 30 advance 0 , 12% to 16,165.70 points, the S & P / ASX 200 was down 0.28% to 4200.90 points and the FTSE Straits Times lost 0.71% to 2746.10 points.

Oil not very active

Oil prices were mixed Friday morning during electronic trading in Asia, in a sluggish market, before the highly anticipated speech of the head of the U.S. central bank (Fed). In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gave 10 cents to 85.20 dollars per barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery took 19 cents to 110.81 dollars.

The CAC 40 is risky there twice this month. He was immediately returned. The threshold of 3000 points, as seen on the Paris market was down on Thursday 11 and Friday, August 19. On Monday morning, the Paris index recurred, opening down 0.85% to 2989.60 points. But again, it started to rise immediately after slipping below 3000, and closed on Monday evening at 3051.36 points (1.14%), having flown over 3100 points During the session this afternoon.

The level of 3000 points may well not be a technical threshold (it does not automatically trigger a sell order or purchase), it still plays a role of "support" on which the market arises before rebounding .Daniel Gravier, Head of Sales Trading at XTB France, believes that "this psychological level is transcribed in the courts and thus returns to a technical threshold."

The cross downward psychological sounded an alarm in markets which do not have a habit of getting carried away by their feelings. Professional traders define their purpose of orders passages through complex mathematical calculations, generated by high-powered software that constantly scan the share price indices, securities, commodities and all that is listed in order to predict the best time to invest or sell. And to build the software, the banks are recruiting the cream of engineers. But in this world of numbers, there is also a psychological dimension.So, see the CAC 40 fell below 3,000 points spurred the market to recover.

"This is a symbolic level, for its part says Harry Sebag, an analyst at Saxo Bank. In times of great nervousness, while visibility is poor, investors cling to benchmarks in the short term instant credit report. It's an excuse to reposition itself for purchase. This morning, we felt that the markets began to rebound because the shares had suffered a significant discount. " And hope for regime change in Libya was a good news for oil companies operating in the country, making a breath of excitement to the Paris Bourse.

"Safeguards" but also to accelerate the panic

"These thresholds are safeguards on which the market rebounds," says Harry Sebag. But the psychological effects of contracts may jégalement ouer a role accelerator panic attacks.The violent stalls indices observed recently on global stock markets have shown. In Paris the CAC 40 fell by 32.4% since July 1, affected by short-term concerns (the debt crisis in the euro zone, bad macroeconomic indicators in the U.S. and deteriorating debt rating for American Standard & Poor's), but not only. "In late July, the market downturn downward was rational, said Jean-Louis Mourier, an analyst at Aurel BCG. However, the extent of movement and the high volatility experienced by markets in recent days show an overreaction. "

The index in Paris he could sink even lower? The scenario is possible if the disappointing macroeconomic indicators continue to grow and corporate earnings in the third quarter does not reassure investors, said Harry Sebag.Saxo Bank analyst would watch while the threshold indicated by the software, around 2850 points or even 2500 points. "But I hope we will not get to that," he adds.

The Paris Bourse has been optimism in holiday Monday of the Assumption. The CAC 40, which began on the exchange increased by 1.07% to 3248.14 points, ended on a higher, more moderate, from 0.78% to 3239.06 points. The index in Paris fell into the red in mid-day before recovering.

The movement is the same in the rest of Europe. After opening sharply higher, European stock markets have slowed their progress mid-day before returning to finish the colors in a small increase. At closing, the London Stock Exchange and Frankfurt gained 0.57% 0.41%%. After remaining in the red part of the day, Madrid ended with a gain of 0.71%.Exchanges of Milan, Lisbon and Athens are closed due to holiday.

No Eurobonds on the menu Tuesday's markets are very nervous before Tuesday's meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They must discuss reform of the governance of the euro area, sensitive issue for the markets. The Franco-German promises to make such joint proposals by the end of the summer. Investors are calling for the creation of "Eurobonds", which would sign the pooling of public debt in the euro area. But Germany has dampened hopes by mid-morning by announcing that the possible creation of common obligations to countries in the euro area "will play no role" at the meeting on Tuesday."The Euro-bonds are not an option," added the spokesman of the Ministry of Finance during a press conference. The Elysee in a few minutes later confirmed that the issue of Eurobonds was "not on the agenda."

Meanwhile, the British Finance Minister, George Osborne, today called the euro area to move towards a more integrated budget to bring the world economy on the path of trust. The euro area "must now demonstrate its commitment to greater integration of budget and governance arrangements that prevent moral hazard and reinforce fiscal responsibility," said he.

In addition, the European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Olli Rehn called on European countries to adopt "very quickly" the decisions of July 21, and provided that the applicants were working "day and night" to this.

The next publication, this Monday will be very light. On the agenda are the indices of activity of the New York Fed and the real estate market across the Atlantic.

The bank-shaped

On the corporate side, Societe Generale (2.92% to 25.01 euros) will be followed. The Financial Markets Authority (AMF) initiated an investigation of market rumors that circulated this week on Societe Generale, announced Friday its president Jean-Pierre Jouyet.

The banking sector is well oriented. Natixis is the largest increase of ACC (3.95% to 3.23 euros). Credit Agricole gained 3.54% to 6.75 euros, BNP Paribas rises from 3.22% to 38.42 euros, ahead of Axa 2.43% to 11.18 euros.

France Telecom (0.81% to 13.14 euros): the telephone operator Orange has unveiled some clues on the future model of the iPhone Appel keeps top secret.

GDF Suez (0.94% to 20.95 euros) has initiated "discussions" to sell its stake from 10.4% in the West Franklin field in the North Sea, the French energy group intends to transfer for 600 million euros.

Alstom (-0.55% to 32.44 euros): Goldman Sachs rose to "neutral" on the title with a price target reduced to 43 against 52 euros.

Danone (-0.55% to 46.08 euros): UniCredit has raised its rating to "buy" against "hold".

In Tokyo, the stock market took a break after seven straight session chained. Around 7 am on Thursday, the Nikkei loose 0.14% to 10,066.20 points, still maintaining the threshold of 10,000 points achieved by closing yesterday. Orders for capital goods in the private sector in Japan, excluding energy and shipbuilding, rose 3% in May compared with April, a sign that the investment return to the tsunami of March 11.Spending on equipment rose sharply for manufacturers of electronic equipment for telecommunications (28.4%) and precision instruments (31.5%), rising also, to a lesser extent, the manufacturers of automotive and suppliers (2.9%).

Note values ​​aside, there are rumors that the next release in 2012, the Sony PS4 (0.68% to 2208 yen), six years after the release of the PlayStation 3.

Elsewhere in Asia, the trend is also sluggish, as small movements recorded the day before in the region. And Australia, the S & P / ASX gleans 0.05% to 4607.40 points. The Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton (-0.13% to 44n39 Australian dollars) has suspended its operations Thursday to sea and rail transport to the site of its large iron ore mine in Western Australia, after " major incident "that took the life of an employee, he said.BHP said the accident happened early Thursday morning on its facility in Port Hedland which is exported the ore on the west coast of Australia.

In South Korea, the KRX managed to climb more sharply in the green, growing by 0.48% to 4640.52 points. Samsung Electronics Group (-1.89% to 881,000 won) said Thursday that he was counting on an operating profit for the second quarter 2011, down 26% to 3,700 billion won (2.4 billion euros ), against 5,010 billion won a year earlier.At the same time, its sales should be up 2.9% to 39,000 billion won, against 37,890 billion won a year earlier.

China has raised interest rates by 0.25 percentage points

Moreover, the battle between the U.S. computer maker Apple and Samsung has further escalated, the first requiring U.S. authorities blocked the import of smartphones and tablets of the second. The two companies accused each other since April to copy and to violate patents, increasing the number of complaints to both United States and South Korea, but also in Japan or Germany.

In India, the BSE advance of 0.580% to 18,820.10 points. In Singapore, the Straits Times is 0.49% to 3130 points. Finally in China, Hong Kong Hang Seng gained 0.66% to 22,666.10 points and the CSI 300 of Shangahi, 0.57% to 3131.58 points.Markets include the new and much higher rates that took place in China yesterday, Wednesday, the third since the beginning of the year. Rising consumer prices rose, with 5.5% in May, its highest level since July 2008.The yuan, it continues to appreciate.

The small increase in oil

Oil prices were on the upside in electronic trading Thursday in Asia, due to signs of an increase in consumption in the United States, world's largest consumer of oil. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August takes 66 cents to 97.31 dollars.That of Brent North Sea crude for delivery gained 57 cents to equal 114.19 dollars.

On Wednesday, oil prices have retreated a bit in New York, however, offering some resistance to a series of negative indicators for the application, between rate hikes in China and fears of contagion from the debt crisis in Europe.