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Archive for May, 2011

Memory market on Friday, 13 has little impact on markets, even if Friday, October 13, 1989 took place a minikrach. In real estate, however some have difficulty leaving their superstition on the shelf.

The "Paraskevidékatriaphobia (phobia 13) deprives many American buildings 13th floor, and many palaces room or table 13. In the UK, according to a British website, Zoopla, an apartment of less than 300,000 euros, at number 13 of a street, would sell for an average of 4000 pounds (4593 euros) less than 12 or 14 .

The 13 does not however run the streets: 28% of UK streets do not payday loan no faxing. It has often been cleared between 11 and 15, or disguised in 11a. In Paris, there are not 13, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, since the Empress Eugenie decided. But when they exist, the numbers 13 are not cheaper than 15 or 11.

In Orpi or Féau is remembered buyers have waived a house not quite "feng shui", but not because of 13. Citing statistics, the Notaries of Paris confirms: "For the No. 13 tracks, there is no special discount. Parisians do not seem superstitious! "Neither the address nor the floor … in the Montparnasse tower does have a 13th.

In Greece, the good news is rare lately. The most indebted country in Europe would be out of recession in the first quarter of 2011, thanks to a rebound in activity of 0.8%, according to Eurostat and the Greek Authority statistics. A surprise, after a dip of 2.8% over the last three months of 2010, a figure significantly revised downward from earlier estimates of -1.6%.

"The resumption of growth in Greece is surprising: we expected the continuation of the recession," says Thibault Mercier, economist at BNP Paribas. "But that blip, probably driven by external trade, does not fundamentally change the situation: the austerity program has a strong impact on household consumption.Businesses can not borrow at very high rates and banks, whose health depends on the state of public finances, have limited access to liquidity. "Clearly, they can very easily give credit to their customers.

"The recession is it defeated?" Asks BNP Paribas. "Not really: the figures published so far do not provide details on the components of growth and numbers are often revised significantly after the first publication." These factors explain the downward revision by the European Commission's forecast Greek economy to the same Friday. It now expects a fall of 3.5% of the activity, against a fall of 3% previously envisaged. Accordingly, the government deficit is forecast at 9.5% of GDP, against 7.4% previously estimated.

The recovery is strengthening in the euro zone

Moreover, growth in the euro zone has more than doubled in the first quarter at +0.8% against +0.3% end of 2010, according to a first figure published by Eurostat.

It is true that several countries are still experiencing difficulties. Portugal has thus fallen into recession, with a contraction of 0.7% of GDP and the Italian economy has stagnated (+0.1%). Spain has recorded its share to a timid growth of 0.3%.

The average growth in the euro area was driven by the dynamism of its largest economies: France reported a surprise increase of its activity by 1%. Growth of 1.5% was even made by Germany!

The new prime minister, in power since last March, addresses the problem of unemployment, which remains the black spot in the Irish economy. Enda Kenny has presented on Wednesday a package of measures aimed at creating 100,000 jobs over four years.

The plan provides for reduced charges on low wages, a lower rate of VAT from 13.5% to 9% on some goods and services related to tourism to boost the sector and an increase in infrastructure spending for roads and schools. The government also wants to facilitate the upgrading of the unemployed through training programs.

Since 2008, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been destroyed under the impact of financial crisis, the bursting of the housing bubble, bank failures and austerity plans to repeat that the government had to place to contain soaring deficits and debt.In recent years, the unemployment rate has skyrocketed from 4% in 2007 to 14.7% today. The country is also facing an exodus of the population, especially young people, who try their luck in Canada or Australia. After the tutelage of the IMF and the EU, which granted in November a plan to help 85 billion euros in the country, the government faces a budget deficit of 32% of GDP, provides for a very narrow scope.

Rebound in exports

To finance this plan, Enda Kenny has decided to introduce a new tax – 0.6% – on pension funds, which should bring 470 million euros per year, totaling 1 instant credit report.9 billion euros . This has inevitably raised strong criticism in the profession. Growth side, the latest forecasts predict a return to the green this year, after three years of recession.The main institute in the situation, ESRI, reported Wednesday its forecast, anticipating a rise in GDP of 2% this year and 3% in 2012. A result that is nevertheless perspective, because this new dynamism "based entirely on exports," says ESRI report, given that domestic demand will fall further this year. Knowing that this rebound of external trade is linked to many multinationals operating in Ireland. Moreover, the GNP, which does not take into account their business will only grow 0.5% in 2011, according to ESRI.

Precisely for this reason that the Prime Minister does not intend to compromise with its European partners, who demand a higher rate, very attractive, the corporate tax (currently 12.5%) in exchange for a relaxation of the rescue plan negotiated by his predecessor, Brian Cowen."The Irish have made some overtures in that domain," says one good source, however, the French Ministry of Economy. Negotiations could therefore release in the coming weeks.

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Strong rebound in the Paris Bourse. The Cac 40 wins 1.32% mid-term to 4060.20 points. The previous day he had dropped 1.25% due to the deteriorating financial situation of Greece. The trend remains fragile. Investors will follow the show including six months of the Greece of a $ 1.25 billion.

Greece does not discuss additional assistance, sources said Tuesday Greek and European senior, denying a news report that suggested a new plan of 60 billion euros. This information has boosted European values ​​that are returned to the rise in the morning.

On the macroeconomic front, industrial production fell 0.9% in March, according to statistics released Tuesday by the INSEE.Analysts forecast an average 0.4% increase in industrial production.

United States, the import prices in April will be released at 14:30.

On the foreign exchange market, the euro was stable against the dollar on Tuesday. About 11:00 am in Paris, the euro was at 1.4365 dollars against 1.4358 late Monday.

Greece in big trouble, gasoline at record levels

After losing more than 2% Wednesday, financial stocks are at the party on Tuesday. Societe Generale (2.22% to 43.12 euros), Axa (+2.15% at 14.97 euros), Credit Agricole (2.14% to 10.98 euros) and BNP Paribas (+2, 10% to 54.05 euros) had the largest decreases the Cac 40.The rating agency Standard and Poor's downgraded two notches sovereign rating of Greece.

BNP Paribas is expected to formalize Wednesday Pébereau departure from the presidency of the French bank at the end of the year or early 2012, and appoint in his place the current chief executive Baudoin Prot, the Financial Times. The latter should be replaced by Jean-Laurent Bonnafé, deputy CEO of the group.

Accor: + 4.01% to 30.29 euros

CA Cheuvreux has adopted a positive opinion on value."The stock is trading at a discount of 25% compared to that of its European competitors," suggests the analyst, however, maintains its price target to 35.50 euros on the value.

Plastic Omnium: + 7.98% to € 22.60

The Plastic Omnium share is up sharply Tuesday on the Paris Stock Exchange after announcing the acquisition of Rotherma, a leading European manufacturer of underground containers quick payday loans. ROTHERM achieved a turnover of 12 million euros in 2010.

Lagardère: + 1% to 29.26 EUR

Arnaud Lagardère, general partner of Lagardere said at the meeting due to the group maintained its proposed IPO for its 20% stake in Canal +.

Saint-Gobain: + 3.01% to 47.24 euros

The group announced on Tuesday an investment of around 50 million euros in the construction of its second automotive glass plant in China, Qingdao, Shandong Province (east).

While gasoline prices breaking new records almost 1.55 euros on average, earn 1.60% to Total 41.93 euros.

JC Decaux: + 1.47% to 23.49 euros

JCDecaux has significantly exceeded its target on the first three months of 2011 by signing a growth of 7.8% of its turnover but it is more cautious for the current quarter assuming an increase of about 4%.

Saffron: + 2.02% to 26.53 euros, Thales: + 0.34% to 29.80 euros

Safran and Thales should arrive this summer with a tentative agreement on an exchange of assets in the defense wanted by the government, as the chief representative of arming Laurent Collet-Billon, in an interview Tuesday at Les Echos. In a statement, Safran confirms negotiations with Thales.

Sales and general meetings in the program

Atos Origin: -1.8% to 41.54 euros

The IT services company Atos Origin said Tuesday sales down 1.3% in the first quarter 2011 to 1.22 billion euros.For the first half, the group seeks an operating margin up 50 basis points, compared to 6% for the first half of 2010.

Eurazeo: + 1% at 56.76 euros

The investment company Eurazeo in the first quarter revenues stable at 866.8 million euros, but up 5.9% in not taking into account the base effect associated with adverse chain of budget hotels B & B Hotels, sold in 2010.

The turnover in the first quarter of Maurel et Prom, Nexity, Ruby, Alten, Assystem, Devoteam and Eutelsat (third quarter), will be announced after market close.

Note that the general meetings of ArcelorMittal, Lagardere and Havas will be held Tuesday.

Finance ministers of the euro area hoping to keep their meeting Friday night at the Chateau de Senningen, Luxembourg, secret. Not a chance. It was stale, in real time by the website of the magazine Der Spiegel, the most famous of Germany, who found a little faster, there was talk of an "exit" of Greece to the euro area. A new contradicted on all sides, which was enough to plunge the euro of 1.30%, to $ 1.43 on Friday night.

If the output of the euro was a rumor "completely fanciful" in the words of Bercy, the financial position of Greece was indeed part of the discussions in the Grand Duchy.A situation so explosive, with a debt of 350 billion euros in early 2011 (150% of GDP), that this appointment did not appear on any official agenda …

Were present in Luxembourg: Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Eurogroup, which took the initiative of the meeting, Christine Lagarde, Wolfgang Schäuble, Julio Tremonti of Italy, the Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou; Minister Spanish Solgado Elena, the ECB president, Jean-Claude Trichet and European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Olli Rehn.

"We did not discuss output Greece to the euro! It's a stupid idea! We do not want the euro area explodes! "Insisted Jean-Claude Juncker after the meeting, visibly annoyed. "We also exclude the option of restructuring the heavily cited by the markets," he added."Greece needs a further adjustment program," he insists.

Rejected by France, the ECB, the European Commission and the boss of the Eurogroup, who fear the contagion effect in the euro area (see below), the assumption of a debt restructuring Greek has nevertheless been mentioned, as "mild" a debt rescheduling. But it was not accepted as a reasonable assumption, including the Germans. "This is not the agenda," says Will we in Berlin, even though the Liberals in the coalition are pushing for banks to charge, and, failing to leave Greece in the euro area …

A hole estimated at 30 billion

Leaving aside these two extreme options, there is only one solution: a new financial extension beyond the 110 billion euros of loans already granted by the EU and the IMF to Greece.This amount is insufficient today to cover the financing needs of Greece to June 2013, when the rescue plan will expire today.

To fill a hole estimated at 30 billion euros, before the coming into force the European mechanism of stabilization (TSS), a new form of rescue was considered, in Luxembourg.

According to the Greek finance minister, he would "use the recent European Council decision authorizing the Fund to redeem the debt Greek." This is not Greece which would directly lesmarchés in 2012, as agreed at the first save, but the Fiscal Stabilization Fund (EFSF), which would acquire the newly issued debt by Athens at the height of 25-30000000000 euros. The EFSF, sovereign rated 'AAA' markets, has 440 billion euros of lending capacity.

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In the light of an early meeting smashing, with the Dow Jones up more than 1%, the NYSE closed modestly in the green Friday. The Dow Jone gained 0.43% to 12,638.81 points. The Nasdaq index of technology stocks has taken its share 0.46%, to 2827.56 points.

The mood on Wall Street's opening, driven by the release of employment figures better than expected, has been tarnished by rumors from the euro area. Greece had indeed threatened to leave the eurozone, according to the German magazine Der Spiegel, citing sources close to the German government. A ifnormation quickly rejected by the major European capitals and in Greece itself.

U.S. stocks have opened sharply into the green on Friday, strongly supported by the publication at 14.30 good employment figures for the month of April.The Dow Jones advanced 1.10%, to 12,723.12 points and the Nasdaq by 1.09% to 2845.48 points.

Thursday for the third straight session, Wall Street had ended in retreat, investors are unpleasantly surprised by the rise in weekly jobless claims. The fall in commodity prices had also weighed on Wall Street and on most stock exchanges. Asian markets were down this morning.

Oil, for his part ended in the red, a barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery touching down to 97.18 dollars. In one week, falling 15%. This is the largest decline in weekly percentage terms since the week 19 December 2008 when prices fell by 26.8%.

The commodity index had plunged by 5% Friday, its heaviest correction since the 2008 financial crisis and one of the largest in its history.This violent decline in oil and metals weighs heavily on many sectors like oil and steel or producers.

On the foreign exchange market, the acceleration surprise hiring in the U.S. and the turmoil associated mainly in the euro zone have precipitated the rise of the dollar. After passing during the session under $ 1.45, a first for 10 days, the euro traded at 1.4341 shortly before 22.30, down 1.37%.

Kraft Foods profit down

Values ​​to follow

Kraft Foods 2.91% to 34.36 dollars

No. 2 worldwide agribusiness has announced a profit of 799 million dollars in the first quarter, down from $ 1.8 billion last year. The benefit was then boosted by asset sales. Turnover was up 11% to $ 12.6 billion. Organic growth was 4.5%.For 2011, the Group expects organic growth of 4%, against 5% previously announced, and a total growth between 11 and 13%.

Sara Lee: +0.99% to 19.47 dollars

In the same sector, Sara Lee announced a quarterly profit of $ 153 million, against a loss of 336 million last year due to exceptional items. Turnover was up 6.8% to $ 2.22 billion below the $ 2.23 billion expected. Gross margin was down to 33.2% against 37.6%. The group has raised its selling price by 3% on average and anticipates further increases over the next 6 months.

Visa: 0.58%, to 79.16 dollars

Visa has announced his side a 23% increase in profits in the first quarter to 881 million.Net banking income of 2.2 billion, up 15%, driven by higher payments to international and a positive currency effect of 2%. The main uncertainty for the group focuses on the reform sought by the Fed on the fees charged on payments. The new law could reduce the turnover of the group between 11% and 15% and earnings per share of 20%. In addition, the group announced a new share repurchase program of $ 1 billion.

AIG: 1.36%, to 31.21 dollars

The insurance group has achieved for its first quarter 2011 net income of 269 million dollars against 1.8 billion a year earlier.However, the insurer posted a loss of $ 0.35 per share against earnings per share of $ 2.66 last year following the redemption of shares held by the U.S. Treasury for $ 385 million and the additional cost of 427 million related to the redemption of preference shares.

CF Industries: 5.28% to 136.07 dollars

CF Industries announced for first quarter 2011 net income of $ 282 million after a deficit of 4.4 million last year.

Fluor Corporation: 7.27%, to 70.49 dollars

Fluor Corporation completed the first quarter 2011 net income of $ 140 million against 137 million last year.

Microchip Technology: 1.04%, to 40.96 dollars

Microchip Technology has reported for the fourth quarter of 2010/2011 with a consolidated turnover of 380 million up 37% year on year and net income from continuing operations of $ 131 million, up 72% over the year.

Priceline.com: -1.02% to 528.59 dollars

Priceline.com posted a net profit in the first quarter of $ 137 million, up 57% over one year, earnings per share $ 2.66 $ 2.44 against the dollar and 1.7 expected last year .The turnover amounted to 809 million, an increase of 38.5% over one year.

Public Storage: 0.61%, to 24.80 dollars

Public Storage has announced a net profit in the first quarter of $ 148 million against $ 35 million a year earlier.

Sunoco: 3.44%, to 41.44 dollars

Sunoco recorded a deficit of 101 million dollars in the first quarter against a deficit of 63 million last year. The board of directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $ 0.15 per share.

The Paris Bourse took a breather on Thursday morning at the open after sharp declines seen the day before (the CAC 40 fell 1.31% and fell below 4050 points). At 9:00, the index lost 0.10% to 4039.10 points. Otpimiste trend a bit more in Europe where the FTSE London hotel departed from 0.19% to 5995.27 points while the Dax wins 0.46% to 7408.17 points. Both indices had suffered the heaviest losses the Cac yesterday.

In Japan, markets are still closed, but in the rest of the region, the trend has been generally plombéepar investors disappointed by the economic numbers have fallen the day before the United States, which have been faltering and Wall Street. The U.S. ISM services has indeed disappointed while the ADP employment figures in April came out worse than expected.Furthermore, oil inventories surged against all odds, which gave the lead in using oil, which fell below $ 110 in New York yesterday, and changing CNoR down in Asian trade this morning .

On the foreign exchange market, the euro is also strong: it is trading at 1.4878 dollars (+0.32%) to 9 hours after once again exceeded $ 1.49 during the meeting Wednesday.

In anticipation of the ECB

Statistical side to follow on Thursday in Germany, at noon, destatis provide figures on German industrial orders in March. On Thursday, the ECB meets in Helsinki to decide on interest rates that will apply. Jean-Claude Trichet said Thursday it is the price of silver in early June or summer. In England, the BoE also decide on interest rates.

United States, expected productivity in the first quarter (first estimation) to 14.30.Same time, it will be the traditional unemployment claims. The employment figures that will fall tomorrow, Friday, are eagerly awaited. Yesterday, investors learned that ADP figures have reported a creation 179,000 jobs in April, less than expected.

Societe Generale falling, Carrefour sentence

Side values, a publication of rain fell again on Thursday quarterly earnings including Societe Generale, disappointing driving down the stock price by nearly 3% at the opening, drape the CAC.

After the excellent figures given yesterday by BNP Paribas, leading bank in Europe, SocGen announced a net profit of 916 million euros in the first quarter, a decrease of 13.8% over the same period of 2010 attributed to effect accounting related to the revaluation of its own debt.

Gadin the other day, the retail group Carrefour (-2.37% to 30.86 euros), which announced Thursday the departure of its Executive Director James McCann France and the postponement of a controversial quotation of its real estate subsidiary, but maintained its draft rate 100% subsidiary of Dia and its financial targets for 2011.

Lafarge (-1.43% to 45.02) reveals a net loss of 29 million euros in the first three months of the year for a turnover up 9% to 3.55 billion euros .

Legrand (-0.95% to 30.17 euros) in the first quarter increased 13.7% in sales and 41.2% of its net profit, thanks to emerging markets and new market segments which the group has made a priority, which has confirmed its annual targets.

Bureau Veritas (-0.74% to 57.88 euros) confirmed anticipate strong growth in its turnover and adjusted operating profit this year after an increase of 23.2% of its activity in the first quarter .

AXA (-0.37% to 14.94 euros) expressed confidence in improving its profitability despite a drop of 2% of its turnover in the first quarter to 27.92 billion euros.

Maurel & Prom, Arkema and Capgemini climb

The independent oil company Maurel & Prom announced Thursday want to split and rate of its independent subsidiary in Nigeria, whose shares will be distributed to the shareholders in proportion to their participation in the group cash advance to savings account. The action takes off from 4.87% to 14.74 euros this morning.

Arkema (4.34% to 4.24 euros). The net profit quadrupled to 151 million euros and EBITDA (EBITDA) reached 17% of sales through an increase much higher than the market. This puts us among the best chemists.

The French group consultancy Capgemini and Computer Services (2.07% to 41.35 euros) saw sales increase by 14.5% in first quarter 2011 to 2.3 billion euros and confirmed its objectives of achieving a growth in turnover of between 9 and 10% for the year.

The producer of wines and spirits, Pernod Ricard (1.93% to 68.27 euros) Thursday announced an increase in its turnover in the third quarter and confirmed its targets for its entire fiscal year (July 2010 – June 2011).

Air Liquide (+0.48% at 97.41 euros) wants equity for the premium

Its CEO said he was open to the principle of paying a bonus to employees in case of dividend increase, provided to maintain the equity in a group with more than three-quarters of the members are outside France.

Alstom: 0.16% to 42.69 euros Moody's raised its outlook on the Baa1 rating on the group stable, negative cons.

Total: 0.56% to 42 euros, GDF Suez: 0.37% to 26.78 euros a parliamentary commission on Wednesday passed a bill to ban UMP in France in the exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons not conventional gas and oil shale.

Michelin (+0.35% at 66.74 euros) announced an increase in the price of its truck tires, civil engineering, public works, agricultural and handling in Europe to meet the continually rising cost of raw materials.

TF1 (+0.12% at 12.68 euros), which has suffered several setbacks during the hearing last month, decided to appoint a new program director, Jean-François Lancelier, which takes the place of Laurent Storch .

The French chemicals group Rhodia (+0.14% to 31.52 euros) on Thursday posted net unbénéfice 151 million euros in the first quarter more than doubled over one year and raised its profitability target for 2011 to become a recurring gross operating profit of "more than 1 billion euros."

Veolia Environnement (+0.54% at 22.27 euros) on Thursday posted a turnover up 11.3% in the first quarter thanks in particular to the resumption of its activities in the waste.

Mr DIY (+0.64% at 14.14 euros) confirmed its targets for 2011 after publishing a stable turnover in the first quarter to 135.2 million euros.

Gifi (+2.15% at 75.99 euros) registered a growth of 5.2% of its turnover for the first half of its fiscal year 2010-2011, to 351.3 million euros.The turnover of the group's second fiscal quarter ended March 31 rose 7.5% to 139.1 million euros.

Cegedim (0.94% to 43.05 euros) has reported a sales increase of 2.9% as reported to 211.5 million euros, but down 1.4% comparable data available, and maintained its target of 4% growth in turnover for 2011.

The food group Bonduelle (0.57% to 68.50 euros), specializing in vegetables, posted a rise in its turnover for the third quarter from 14.6% to 421.6 million euros thanks to an improvement in consumption, particularly in eastern Europe, according to a statement.

Tonight will be the turn of Vale, Wendel, Eiffage French Cement and NextRadioTV publish.

François Lenglet, managing editor of business daily.

Sony continued its demining operation. Sunday morning, leaders of the electronics group broke the calm of a week full of holidays in Japan to hold an emergency press conference after hacking data of 78 million customers of the platform game online PlayStation Qriocity and a new music download service. On this occasion, the head of consumer business group, Kazuo Hirai, presented his "sincere apologies" and announced a series of measures to "restore confidence" of players.

The situation is serious. Between April 17 and 19, the network information Sony has suffered a virus attack that allowed hackers to capture data from users of the PlayStation Network (PSN), including their name, date of birth, email address and password.Above all, Sony has "not ruled out the possibility" that the bank details have been stolen. Even if the information was encrypted, some 10 million bank details can be found potentially in nature.

Measures of common sense

Faced with this threat, Sony executives have started to deliver the recommendations make sense. They advise gamers to "look at their records and monitor the history of their purchases by credit cards, and change their username and password on other online services if they were identical to those entered on the network PlayStation. This change of password will be imposed when the PlayStation Network and Qriocity service, suspended since April 20, will return to service in the coming days.Players receive one month's premium subscription service for the PlayStation, as compensation paydayloans.

But Sony has also enabled internally to prevent such mishaps from happening again. The electronics giant has announced "measures to improve the security of its network, with the establishment of a" monitoring software automatically to defend against new attacks, improved data encryption , more sophisticated means of detecting intrusions on the network and adding new firewalls. A "Mr. Computer Security "will also be appointed.

A survey in France

On the investigation front, Sony has relied on the expertise of two companies specializing in computer security, while cooperating with authorities in several countries, including the FBI in the United States which are grouped as many users.Official inquiries have been launched or are about to be committed by Great Britain, France, Australia and Hong Kong. For now, no information was provided on the likely perpetrator of this piracy and their motivations.

According to Kazuo Hirai, it is too early to evaluate the accounting consequences of piracy. The cyber attack occurs however at a delicate time for Sony, faced with the consequences of the terrible earthquake and tsunami of March 11 in Japan that led to the temporary shutdown of some of its plants. It also touches the heart of its development strategy in video games, which relies more on online play with each new generation of consoles, and thus the players' confidence in buying from a distance.