International News

The Chinese central bank announced this weekend a further increase in reserve requirements of major banks by 0.5%. This level will be 14% for small financial institutions and 17% for large banks. This is the third time that the People's Bank of China raised the reserve this year. The move is seen as a prelude to higher interest rates, much anticipated in 2010, but it is also a way to delay interest rate hikes this by tightening the screws on the credits via the proportion of reserves. This measure will be effective on May 10

Beijing seeks to put a brake, while concerns about overheating and bubbles in real estate including resurfacing.

Most analysts remain confident about the ability of the Chinese government to curb the overheating, but some are sounding the alarm.In an interview with Bloomberg, economist Marc Faber announcement and a possible implosion of the Chinese economy by a year.

France Telecom said Thursday it had made in the first quarter 2010 revenues down 2% to 10.96 billion euros, in line with market expectations.Profits from his business – not amortissment, charges and taxes (EBITDA) – stand down 4.8% to 3.76 billion euros.

The amount reported sales, which fall into falling 2.7% on a comparable basis, excluding the activities in the United Kingdom, merged with T-Mobile, the French operator said in a statement.

"The group has again demonstrated its ability to maintain its performance in terms of turnover and profitability in an economic and regulatory environment remains difficult," said the CEO of France Telecom, St?phane Richard, quoted in statement.

The operator maintains its 2010 goal of cash generation of around 8 billion euros, "before possible acquisition of new frequencies and without taking into account the impact related to the business tax in France before 2003" .

In its home market, France Telecom has recorded a turnover of 5.77 billion, a decrease of 2.4% (-2.1% on a comparable basis). Spain is even worse, with sales decline of 3.3% (-2.8% on a comparable basis).

In contrast, "Africa and the Middle East are growing more than 7% (on a comparable basis) due to" the rise of our business especially in C?te d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda, " said St?phane Richard.

On Tuesday, France Telecom was willing to pay 300 million dollars, or about EUR 224 million, allowance to Orascom Telcom under its agreement with the group in Cairo to settle their dispute over Mobinil.

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Since Tuesday, investors are moving away from safe-haven assets following the various signs of recovery in the global economy. The success of Intel promote appetite for risk. What will weigh on the dollar. Just as the maintenance of the speech by the Fed, which promotes interest rates still very low even for long.

EUR / USD – Sessions hectic since early April

After the Easter weekend, there has been a depreciation of the euro against the dollar in a climate of distrust of so-called risky currencies. The operators were cooled in their appetite for risk because of their fear on the issue of Greece. The single currency has lost about 220 pips * from a quotation of dollar 1.3500 1.3282 U.S. dollar on Thursday at 10am (lowest of the week).

Then the tension on the markets have weakened.Speech by Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the ECB (European Central Bank) last Thursday, has eased the financial world. He said he pursued the policy of low interest rates up to 1% in the euro area. And it has said that "Greece was able to reduce its deficit" and had already started to employ strong measures.

Nothing better to give a boost to the euro. The last weekend, offering assistance to 30 billion euros – Athens does "not want to use" – the European Union gave a big blow oxygen, allowing the euro to rise around 1 36 dollar on Monday.After two sessions of stagnation (Monday and Tuesday), the exchange rate has increased again, bolstered by renewed investor optimism about the strength of the global recovery due to favorable economic statistics, while comments Fed chairman on a forecast of "moderate growth" have weighed on the greenback.

On Tuesday, the foreign exchange markets have welcomed the issuance by Athens Treasury bills.And on Wednesday, Ben Bernanke (Beige Book) reiterated Wednesday that the rate of the institution should remain close to zero, at which they are set since December 2008, for an extended period, dismissing speculation of an anticipated tightening of Fed monetary policy, which has given new impetus to the euro.

As expected by analysts Realtime Forex Tuesday, which saw the euro test the 1.3541 support for better back, it is mounted to 1.3667 to 18 hours.

CDN / JPY – Same trend

Nippon side, the euro followed the same "trend" * weekly against the yen. The single currency began a decline of more than 400 pips against the yen. On Monday, the euro / yen was quoted at 127.70 to touch a low of 123.40 yen. But from the response Trichet yesterday, the euro strengthened to 125.60 yen to return.

The yen fell for the sixth straight session against the euro, with one course from Wednesday to 127.07 yen against 126.83 yen the day before.

GBP / USD – Sterling held up better than the euro

Across the Channel, the BoE (Bank of England) has also left interest rates unchanged at 0.5%, indicating that this was not the time to make an adjustment of rates.

Monetary side, the pound sterling, however, fared better than the euro against the dollar. Like British macro-economic figures emerged this week (GDP 0.4% and manufacturing output up 1.3%), the pound has evolved into a "range *" between 1.5130 and 1.5320 dollar.

* The cable is able to break this channel by treating up to 1.5473 dollar.

Against the yen, the pound again the delay and found almost the level of 144.21 yen on Monday.

CHF / EUR – Swiss Franc still going strong

On Wednesday, the Swiss franc 1.4362 per euro symbol. This is a very strong for the Swiss franc, which traded in 2009 almost all the time between 1.50 and 1.54.

Since the beginning of the year, the Swiss Frabce climbed more than 5%. This is not the business of the Swiss Central Bank, whose foreign exchange policy is heckled.

The yuan under the spotlight of the world

On Wednesday, Ben Bernanke, who appeared before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, reiterated that "the United States must continue to press China to bring it to revalue its currency, the yuan."Barack Obama this week's encounter homolgue Chinese President Hu Jintao on China's trade deficit background.

Most economists agree that the currency is undervalued – by 40% according to analysts and has been used to obtain an economy more oriented toward exports to domestic consumption.

On the one hand, in case of revaluation, China would be ready to counter the speculative bubbles that threaten, and inflationary pressures. But then again, remember that a more expensive yuan will be more expensive for the "Western" to fill all Chinese products.And they will have the effect of melt exchange reserves in dollars of the Chinese, which does allow them to buy as many more U.S. Treasury Bonds, and therefore finance the debt of the United States …

* Definitions

• Forex: For Foreign Exchange, or foreign exchange market

• Technical analysis: analyst or chartist. She studied graphic evolution courses. The research in the historical price behavior involved in a situation to predict the evolution of financial securities.

• Pips: Price Interest Point. Unit rating for foreign currency. It designates the last digit used: in the case of the euro, the fourth decimal place.

• Trend: trend.

• Range: range.

• Support: value as the price has very little chance to pass down.

• Resistant: value as the price has very little chance to overtake on the rise.

• EUR: Euro, USD: U.S. Dollar, or U.S. dollar JPY Japan Yen or Japanese yen, GBP: British Pound, CHF: Swiss franc.

Pressed by the markets which seem to question the reality of the support plan for Greece, the central bankers in the euro zone agreed Sunday on the financial terms of emergency loans to Athens. "An agreement has been reached" at a meeting of experts in Brussels, assured on Friday, several European sources. "A very important decision has been taken," said Sunday Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on television.It can be triggered at any time if Greece requests.

Any aid to Greece based on bilateral loans of at least 30 billion euros, which would be made at a rate of about 5%.

"For loans up to three years, the rate of special drawing rights (SDR) plus 300 basis points plus 50 basis points of service charge, claimed Friday from European sources.

Under discussion for ten days, the interest rate was a crucial point of the plan, anxiously awaited by investors. Germany insisted that loans be granted to Greece "no subsidy" that is to say, the market price, while France and Italy were ready to make a flower in Greece.

Berlin was right partners, obtaining successful even in the smallest details."A premium of 350 basis points above the SDR rate – the benchmark for the IMF – is the average for the market this week," said Dominique Barbet, head of market research at BNP Paribas. "For a country of the euro area is very expensive," he adds. "But at least Greece is attached to his fate," said the economist.

What interest could she Greece to seek EU aid, if the price of loans is not less than the market? "In the markets, lenders are not obliged to lend, even if the price is attractive: it is all the difference," said Dominique Barbet low rate payday loans.If Greece asks EU aid, she knows she will obtain a price fixed in advance, which will never be below the market price, because the latter will naturally.

Spectrum of banking crisis

For now, Athens has not seen fit to seek the help of the euro area and the IMF, even if the markets will grow, calling for a rate of 7% for loans to ten years, or surcharge of 4% compared to Germany.

Although the markets have calmed down a bit Friday, Greece is at the foot of the wall. It may not only failure refinancing at its next bond issue, but also a banking crisis. Fearing bankruptcy, the Greeks have already withdrawn 10 billion euros of deposits and place them in foreign banks.

On Friday, ratings agency Fitch lowered the debt by two notches to BBB-Greece, citing "budgetary challenges" growing."The sharp rise in interest rates will make it harder for the government to achieve its goal of reducing the budget deficit to 8.7% this year," says the rating agency. Fitch is particularly heard it was the first to degrade Greece December 8, 2009, giving the signal for the Greek financial crisis.

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"SPECIAL – Greece, a challenge for Europe

We knew the loopholes in the tax and social in the sights of government. Fran?ois Fillon reiterated Thursday that he did not intend to scale back its ambitions in this area. Before the senators, the Prime Minister has once again stated that the government would propose the "elimination or capping of tax and social niches. Lower taxes for donations to associations, loan interest deductions for a property purchase, VAT at 5.5% for other work and reduced taxation for life insurance contracts now know what to expect !

Bercy's goal to reduce by 2 billion euros per year tax loopholes, and for 3 years. An ambitious goal that requires the Department of Economics at all look under the microscope, one by one. "There are two ways to act: either to consider each of the niches and see the feasibility of its abolition.Or set up a rule on all tax and social niches, "said Thursday the prime minister. In other words, the planing.

In late January, in an interview igaro F, Francois Fillon was e indicated that the government does would create "no more". "Then we must question their effectiveness: some of them are not, or more strategic. We will limit the other in time – to force us to regularly check if they meet their goals – and minimize their ceilings, "he explained.

Decisions mid-May

The government has made a religion on the subject for many months already.For even if the deficit was revised slightly downwards for this year – 8% of GDP instead of the initial estimate of 8.5% – a considerable effort will need to be made to the path of public finances on leave again the right slope, having slipped sharply during the crisis.

Politically, addressing niche has an advantage: it is the best way to increase taxes without seeming to. But the task is not easy technically. Touching the niches that benefit businesses? The government is not keen, not to nibble again their competitiveness, it has worked so hard to restore it elsewhere. Last week, Secretary of State for Employment Laurent Wauquiez, was thus excluded from the touch – even slightly – to employer contributions, because "the relief load is undoubtedly the policy tool of the job more effective. "It finds that, according to the minister, a report issued a few weeks ago by the Inspector of Finance, Jean-Luc Tavernier. According to the report, 21 billion of relief support enjoyed by companies on low wages would save between 600 000 and 800 000 jobs. Unable to touch in times of high unemployment.

Addressing niche enjoyed by individuals? Difficult also, without taking the risk of being accused of sacrificing the wallet of the French. On this issue, the prime minister has also several reports in his drawers for the inspection of Finance. One focuses on tax loopholes related to inactivity. Another niche on the taxation of savings. One thing is certain: the topic will be addressed at the national conference of the deficits projected for mid-May Nicolas Sarkozy has already announced that the decision "important" would be taken.

After three days of Easter break and while European markets are closed on Monday, the NYSE should begin the week in green. The recovery of new posts in the United States, announced Friday as the market was closed, has something to restore confidence among investors. In March, the United States have created 162 000 jobs. This is the best performance in nearly three years. It is partly due to the hiring of 48 000 federal agents responsible for conducting the population census planned this year. But overall, the trend shows that employment in the private sector restarts. In industry, in services such as retail and even construction companies have started to recruit. "America still has work to do to restore jobs, but it's the best news in this regard for two years, welcomed the president Barack Obama.In fact, the unemployment rate remains high in the United States to 9.7% in March and February.

Investors scrutinize closely this afternoon two other important indicators: Promises of home sales in February in the U.S. and especially the index (ISM) activity in the service in March faxless cash advances. Experts expect a continued recovery in this sector (which accounts for 80% of jobs-with the exception of agriculture, the country) for the third consecutive month.If these statistics confirm the strength of recovery in the U.S. economy, the Dow Jones, which closed Thursday at 10 927.07 points could cross the threshold of 11 000 points.

Despite the absence of European investors, still Easter weekend, futures on indices of NYSE were well oriented two hours before the opening of U.S. markets. Futures on the Dow Jones traded at 10 890 up 30 points and those on the Nasdaq at 1 960 points (8 points).

Side values, Apple will be closely watched at the market opening. The Americans were indeed rushed during the weekend on the iPad, the new multifunction tablet from Apple. More than 300 000 copies have been sold as of Saturday, the first day of worldwide commercialization of this new high-tech product.

Sixty employees of the automotive Sodimatex, whose owner decided to close, are cut off since this afternoon at their factory Crepy-en-Valois, in the Oise and threaten to set fire to a tank gas, it was learned from the police, confirming a report Parisien.fr site.

A mobile police squad has been deployed around the plant. After being evicted on Thursday morning a roundabout they occupied, the employees were cut to 15 hours in their factory.

"They say they want to burn a tank of gas. They want socially is increased, said the prefecture. They demanded that negotiations be reopened with management.The state plays its role of mediator. "

The tank, four to five meters long, located outside the factory is surrounded by pallets "ready to be lit," according to employees.

The prefecture has reported working at a negotiating meeting "if possible as early as Thursday evening. "We do not know how it will end. People are focused, "said Eric Lemoine, of the CFDT plant. "People are starting to crack," he said.

A premium extra-legal of 21,000 euros per employee

The closure of the plant, which employs 92 employees, was announced April 10, 2009. Since then, negotiations between the social management and the employees have failed, despite mediation by the state. Employee representatives were received by early February at the Elysee by an advisor to the head of state, says Lemoine. "It would give us news. We're still waiting, "he said.The employees claim Sodimatex including extra-legal premium of 21,000 euros per employee.

They demonstrated Thursday morning on the outskirts of the plant, blocking access to a large industrial area and the logistics platform Crepy-en-Valois. According to the prefecture, they refused a round table to say their demands and kept blocking.

"The police intervened.They have restored traffic conditions allowing businesses to operate, "according to the prefecture, who said that the direction of Sodimatex" did not require intervention of the authorities. "

The mobile police intervened using tear gas, which was perceived by employees as "a real attack, told AFP Alain Lebrun, general secretary of the departmental union CGT de l'Oise.

"Employees demand that management come to the negotiating table, but not empty handed," he said.

He said the group Trier, owner of Sodimatex, received 55 million euros from the state under the plan to help automotive suppliers. "Today, we want to let employees go with the legal minimum," he denounced.Xavier Mathieu, the leader of the CGT employees of the factory Continental Clairoix (Oise), came to give his support Thursday night "to brothers of struggle."

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"When the state interferes in the affairs of industrial

Finishing the week? Difficult even within an hour of the closing address. The CAC 40 was indeed well embedded in the green, but 16 hours, the morale of Americans showed degraded. The investors in the United States and Europe reacted immediately.

Around 16.45, the flagship index of Paris evolves close to equilibrium after being tipped into the red. The CAC 40 is around 3930 points. The index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.5 in March against 73.6 in February. Americans are less optimistic about employment prospects.

Earlier on Friday, retail sales in the United States have however withstood the bad weather in February.Against all odds, they rose by 0.3% compared to January (in data seasonally adjusted) while analysts felt they had declined by 0.2%.

This supports other new ad, released Thursday, which was rather reassuring, even if they still underscore the difficulties overseas cheapest one. Like the U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week. Perhaps, then, that the ACC will manage to close the week at the Green …

Mixed signals

But some lingering doubts in the markets due to the mixed signals sent to the assumption by the United States, Japan and China.The latter confirmed his great form with a rise in industrial production by 20.7% yoy in January and February, coupled with increased investment in fixed assets of 26.6%. But the United States, the government announced a record budget deficit of 220.909 billion dollars in February, while the decrease in the number of newly unemployed was less than expected, with 462,000 new registrations against 460,000 estimated.

In Japan, meanwhile, lowered its estimates of GDP for the fourth quarter 2009, up 0.9% from the previous quarter, instead of +1.1%. This is in addition a possible credit crunch in China because of rising inflation (2.7% in February).

Firstly, the current account deficit remained virtually stable in France in January over December, to 3.4 billion euros, against 3.3 billion euros in December, by BdF cashadvance .

The automotive sector in the form

The CAC 40 is pulled up by the automotive sector. Renault (+1.85% to 33.885 euros) is the fourth largest increase in the index. It is preceded by Peugeot (+1.90% to 21.990 euros). Far behind Michelin earns 0.46% to 57.19 euros. Valeo lost 0.22% to 24.91 euros.Faurecia is gaining 0.53% to 14.33 euros.

The bank also support document: Credit Agricole (+1.20% to 12.2 euros), BNP Paribas (0.67% to 57.28 euros) and Societe Generale (+1.66% to 44.730 euros) seem announcements have given the Chinese tighten credit.

EADS (-0.07 to 14.840 euros): the controversy swells around the financing of the A400M. Matignon is mulling an appeal to the general loan or option focusing on the state budget.

Pernod Ricard (+0.10% at 60.30 euros) which has launched a bond issue of 1.2 billion euros on Thursday, brought together an order book exceeding 5.5 billion euros. The proceeds from the offering will be used to repay the installments shorter credit union to extend the maturity of the debt.

Total (stable at 39.10 euros) is always under pressure.The CGT oil group called for a resumption of the strike in the refinery when the Justice will rule on his request for interim measures for the crime of interference with employee representative bodies. The CEC will file early next week a motion to that effect.

Mich?le Bellon, Assistant General Manager of Dalkia, will succeed Michael Francony at the head of the ERDF, the distribution subsidiary of EDF (-0.42% to 38.125 euros).

EDF Energies Nouvelles has announced Friday that U.S. power company Indiana Power and Light (IPL) had canceled the contract of sale of electricity on wind project Lakefield, in south-west of the State of Minnesota. The Exchange sanctions: -2.80% to 36.160 euros.

Cellectis (-0.69% to 10.02 euros) on Friday announced a turnover in 2009 rose 14% to 12.1 million.The group also announced a strengthening of its cash to 45.6 million euros against 28.7 million a year earlier.

As for publications, Rally (-1.18% to 25.9 euros), which controls Casino (-0.25% to 60.86 euros) will announce its annual results.

Investors began to doubt when the morale of U.S. households showed slightly degraded. Americans are less optimistic about employment prospects. The index of consumer sentiment fell to 72.5 in March against 73.6 in February.

The effect on U.S. markets was immediate. While in the early exchanges, they open up, already after three consecutive sessions in green, Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S & P 500 are passed into the red.

Around 16:30, they retreat respectively of 0.06%, 0.34% and 0.19%.

This Friday at 14:30, retail sales in the United States have resisted to the bad weather in February.Against all odds, they rose by 0.3% compared to January (in data seasonally adjusted) while analysts felt they had declined by 0.2%.

This supports other new ad, released Thursday, which was rather reassuring, even if they still underscore the difficulties overseas cheapest one. Like the U.S. trade deficit fell to 37.29 billion dollars from 39.9 billion in January. For specialists Barclays Exchange, "it is a pleasant surprise to the extent that economists were expecting a deficit of 41 billion dollars."Other good news side of the labor market "listings weekly unemployment fell to 462,000 from 469,000 the previous week.

Oil prices rose Friday in the opening exchanges in New York on a more optimistic market demand after the new forecast of the International Atomic Energy. The barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery was trading at the opening at 82.97 dollars, up 86 cents from the previous day.

On Wall Street will be sitting under the sign consumer with the publication of sales information for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.Business inventories for the month of January will be published in late afternoon.

Citigroup rose 20% in 4 sessions

On the side of values, the CEO of Citigroup has pledged a return to profitability of the bank. The state could get rid of all of its shares within twelve months. The title of Citigroup rose 30% since the beginning of the month and by 20% since the stock market Monday. Friday, the shares resumed their breath, down from 0.7% to $ 4.15.

For several sessions throughout the banking sector enjoys a renewed interest from investors. On Thursday, he was also concerned by the failure of talks in the U.S. Senate to reform the financial system.After several months of effort, Senator Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, failed to reach an agreement between Republicans and Democrats on this bill to reform the banking system.

In the energy sector, Devon Energy (0.51%, to 72.41 dollars), the specialist production of oil will sell at BP Plc for seven billion dollars of assets located in Brazil, Azerbaijan and Gulf of Mexico.

Note also the manufacturer of semiconductor National Semiconductor announced after the close of the NYSE, a profit of 53.2 million, or 22 cents a share against 18 cents expected by analysts' consensus. Turnover was 361.9 million against 348.6 million expected by analysts. Titles rise of 0.63%, to 14.44 dollars.

Wall Street is expected in the red pre-meeting Tuesday. At the NYSE, the Dow Jones, Nasdaq 100 and S & P 500 retreat respectively of 0.05% at 10,548 points, from 0.13% to 2329 points and 0.23% to 1,136 points.

U.S. operators will choose to pocket a share of the gains made last week by caution before a salvo of indicators in the coming days. Especially since the main stock index hit a "low point" there is exactly one year, March 9, 2009. Since the S & P 500 has started the largest rally in history. In one year, the U.S. index has increased by almost 70%!

The next U.S. statistics are expected tomorrow with the traditional weekly report on unemployment. Weekly Market in the United States, will then be placed under the sign consumer.The two major economic indicators this week, published Friday, will be the sales details for the month of February and the preliminary estimate of consumer confidence.

The euro continued its decline against the dollar Tuesday, settling below $ 1.36, penalized by renewed concerns about Greece and the risk of contagion within the euro area, while the market remains cautious vis -?-vis a possible European Monetary Fund. At the opening of the NYSE, the euro bought 1.3562 dollars (-0.42%) against 1.3631 dollars late Monday teletrek no payday advance