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An uncompromising report. For over a year, dozens of officials, led by the Audit Office, analyzed the tax and social niches, as a result of a mission request François Fillon. "The total amount of tax expenditures and social niches weighs heavily on public finances. Their development can also affect the readability of the tax and benefit system, and the fair distribution of public office, "wrote the Prime Minister.

The CAC 40, which gained nearly 4% over the last three sessions, was down 0.65% at 3119 points on Thursday on the eve of the intervention (16 hours on Friday, Paris time) of President of the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke. He could announce new measures of monetary easing to support the U.S. economy. Or, failing that, to maintain low rates. Meanwhile, despite cost-cutting measures announced yesterday in France, and which could have an impact on some companies, the stock index, which opened up this morning, was up until about 1530, slowly approaching the 3200 points mark. Before turning down, weighed down by various rumors, immediately denied, one on the degradation of the AAA rating in Germany, the other on a total ban on short selling in the country.These rumors have pushed the Dax in Frankfurt ended sharply lower after losing 1.71% to 4%.

On the macroeconomic front, two indicators were expected at the meeting. The morale of German consumers, hit by the debt crisis in the eurozone and the agony of a recession has reached its lowest level since late 2010, announced Thursday the specialized institute GfK. The GfK said its consumer confidence index, which provides for their behavior in September according to data compiled in August stood at 5.2 points and finds its level in November 2010. This is his sixth consecutive decline.

Above all, the weekly jobless claims in the U.S. rose unexpectedly during the week of Aug. 20, at 417,000 against 412,000 the previous week, according to data from U.S. Department of Labor unveiled at 14:30.What foster uncertainty and investor concerns about the health of the world's largest economy, while analysts had forecast 405,000 registrations.

In France, unemployment figures and job seekers for the month of July will be released after market close at 6:00 p.m..Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand, warns that unemployment figures "are wrong as were those of the previous two months."

Side raw materials, oil prices rose Thursday to open in New York a barrel of "light sweet crude" for October delivery was trading at 85.99 dollars, up 83 cents from the previous day.

Sharp decline in quarterly profit of Crédit Agricole

On the corporate side, the ball of the results continues.

Crédit Agricole: + 4.81% to 6.511 euros – largest increase in the CAC 40 to BNP Paribas (2.74% to 34.36 euros) and Societe Generale (3.44% to 22.13 euros).

Crédit Agricole has published a net profit down 10.6% to 339 million euros in the second quarter 2011, due to a charge of 640 million related to Greece.In addition, the group could spend 1.5 billion euros to recapitalize its subsidiaries in Southern Europe including the Greek bank Emporiki, according to the Letter of expansion without citing sources.half-year results of companies, including Credit Agricole and Edenred, the branch of Accor Services.

Edenred: + 1.58% to 17.70 euros

Edenred announced interim results and annual targets in line with analysts' expectations, the strong activity in Latin America continue to boost the profits of the group.

Alstom: – 0.91% to 30.485 euros

Alstom has signed two contracts for more than 100 million euros to supply equipment for controlling the air quality in the Middle East.

Cellectis: 12% to 6.72 euros

Cellectis has entered a development agreement and license with the American Recombinetics on "the creation of transgenic large animals" such as pigs, sheep or cattle.

Schneider Electric – 0.18% to 89.14 euros

Schneider Electric announced that its takeover bid for Telvent Git SA expire 30 August instead of September 12.

Gemalto: + 6.33% to 31.41 euros

Gemalto has reported a strong growth in its half-yearly sales, thanks to the strong growth of its secure transactions that are now the most profitable activity of the group.

Bureau Veritas: + 1.14% to 53.89 euros

Bureau Veritas announced adjusted net income up 10% to 164.2 million euros in the first half, operating margin declined 70 basis points to 16.0%, and confirmed predict a sharp increase in the number and business results in 2011.

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Is credible but not to frighten. It was a difficult equation that would solve the government well aware that he must adapt its economic forecasts for 2011 and 2012, now too optimistic. The air hole world of activity in the spring, the debt crisis of July Greek and diving markets in August have persuaded it would be impossible to achieve 2% growth this years and 2.25% next year born, as previously envisaged.

"It would be irresponsible to ignore the current situation," hammered François Fillon. The government wanted to be as realistic as possible. He expects GDP growth of 1.75% in 2011, "because it takes even more cautious for next year," 1.75% also in 2012.

The deficit to 4.5% in 2012

These new figures are in line with what experts expect. Few saw growth reach the 2% this year. Even fewer were those who planned the event feasible for 2012. For next year, the forecasts of economists from banks for the time range from 1% to 2%. The Consensus Forecasts, which synthesizes a fortnight believes, anticipates 1.7%.

That market pressure, which monitor the slightest faux pas of public finances, and this downward revision of growth that led the government to provide additional savings efforts, without waiting for the presentation of the bill Finance for 2012 in late September.

The austerity measures – the government refuses to call "rigor" – will lead an effort to one billion euros this year and above 11 billion euros in 2012.This amount will break down next year, 10 billion in additional revenue and $ 1 billion of savings on expenditure. Not to mention spending another billion set aside to "deal with any contingency."

All this should enable France to reduce its public deficit of 5.7% of GDP in 2011 to 4.5% in 2012 – a final goal "a little more ambitious" than was expected previously. Enough to hold the European commitments and keep the famous "AAA" rating that allows the country to finance its debt with low interest rates.

"We are taking steps that do not break the growth (…) and strengthen the tax and social justice," said the Prime Minister.One of the most emblematic devices decided Wednesday by François Fillon and Nicolas Sarkozy is to tax the very high incomes so "exceptional" – to return to 3% deficit, is in principle in 2013.

But it will also count with a new movement of the plane 10% tax loopholes, increasing tobacco prices, higher taxes on savings and real estate gains, lower exemptions from employer contributions on overtime or a plan amendment to postpone the income tax (see below). The French now know what to expect …

This is the kind of evening that annoys the purists. Last June, the Becca Cason Thrash wealthy Texan, Vice President of "Friends of the Louvre" U.S. and international, organized a charity gala in the largest museum in the world. The guests – celebrities such as Albert of Monaco and actress Fanny Ardant – were welcomed with a cocktail in the apartments of Napoleon III, before dinner – a sacrilege to some – among the sculptures in the Cour Marly. All these people then went under the Pyramid, transformed into a nightclub for a private concert by Janet Jackson. Fee, the event has raised 700,000 euros to restore the decorative arts galleries of the eighteenth century.

Henri Loyrette, the Louvre for ten years, of course, attended the festivities. The Conservative education devotes much of his time raising private money.It is, apparently, difficult to resist the charm of this man of culture nearly 2 meters. A boss of a U.S. real estate company said that the French, he was invited to spend a weekend at his home in Cincinnati, has enchanted by the couple's conversation about opera and architecture of the city, and has even cracked a speech to the local art museum. "At the end of the weekend, I gave him a check for $ 50,000," says the boss at the magazine Business Week.

Henri Loyrette unashamedly claims this fundraiser activity. And for good reason. The state reduced its funding by 5% in 2009 and again from 5% in 2011. Governments subsidize just over half the budget of the Louvre, against 70% in 2001."To finance its activities with a cultural, but also – more than in the past – educational and social, in a context of declining public subsidies, the Louvre has no other choice but to increase its own resources," he assures, noting that the establishment is not intended to generate profits. His office does not resemble that of an entrepreneur. In the room with ocher walls adorned with classical paintings, with windows overlooking the Pont du Carrousel, every corner is occupied by piles of files and books.

Thirty fundraisers

The Louvre, however, is not complaining. With 230 million euros last year (against 80 million in 2001), the institution has resources comparable to the Metropolitan in New York. Another reason for satisfaction, ticketing, clean source of income, has good prospects.The 8.5 million admissions in 2010, 5 million charge, reported 41 million euros. Attendance, up 70% since 2001, should continue to increase. The Louvre, which has raised interest rates from 9.50 to 10 euros in early 2011, taking advantage of the influx of tourists from emerging countries. If France makes a third of visitors, including foreigners, Brazilians ranked third last year behind the Americans and Italians.

Despite their popularity, the former royal palace could not offer a program as rich without its sponsors. The latter brought him 25 million euros last year, more than a quarter of own income. To attract them, the Louvre was created in 2003 a commando no equivalent in France: a team of thirty people dedicated to raising funds. They offer companies to fund projects until end 2013.This may include, for example, to affix its logo on the poster exhibition. Cost: between 100,000 and 400,000 euros for one of the Forbidden City, scheduled in September. Other possibilities, the redesign of the website or with the acquisition of a work of German Romantic painter Friedrich. The Department of Islamic Art, which opened in 2012, it should be 75% funded by the private sector. Saudi Prince al-Walid brings 17 million euros 100 million.

Tax benefits

Fundraisers of the prestigious institution have a strong argument: a tax system that allows the 2003 tax cuts equivalent to 60% of the expenses of artistic patronage, and even 90% for the purchase of a work art classified national treasure. However, they must scrap more than before the crisis.Main challenge, competition of social projects, popular with company employees. As a result, "we propose projects crossing artistic and social dimensions," says Hervé Barbaretta, deputy head of the Louvre. For the exhibition of ancient Macedonia in the fall, Total organize and discovery tours of the museum for troubled youth. To "preserve the scientific credibility," Henri Loyrette ensures that sponsors are funding projects already "tied". This applies to the exhibition "Paper Work", which indicates that the poster is presented by "the Louvre Museum and Canson." Exposure of the watchmaker Breguet in 2009 was cringe, with texts considered too partisan.

In exchange for their support, businesses are entitled to privileges such as the availability of spaces.Other firms pay dearly for these benefits: 100,000 euros for a night under the Pyramid. Unlike donors, they do not have their name engraved for eternity on the "wall of patrons" in the lobby.

In full the debt crisis, Joe Biden is timely in its largest creditor. The U.S. vice president hopes to strengthen ties with China, where he now starts an Asian tour that will take him then in Mongolia and Japan. This is the first official visit to Beijing the number two in the Obama administration since taking office. It is particularly meet the new generation of leaders, particularly Xi Jinping, tipped to succeed Hu Jintao in 2013, and will seek to reassure his counterparts about the destiny of the world's leading power.

Despite the rants of some official media who had called the United States to "live within their means" and the thrust carried by the rating agency Dagong Chinese, who, too, degraded the U.S. sovereign rating, the central seems to keep his confidence in the economy of the United States, it continues to bear. Between April and June, far from giving his titles like other countries, China has not slowed the pace of its purchases of Treasury bills. And in late June, Beijing held 1.17 trillion dollars of U.S. debt.

Investor confidence in Asia

Despite these reassurances, it is clear that the Middle Kingdom has more top in its bilateral relations with Washington us fast cash. As the world worries about the future U.S. investors place their trust in contrast to Asia, particularly China.Foreign direct investment (FDI) have increased by 19.83% in July compared to the same period in 2010. During the first seven months of the year, the People's Republic attracted 69.19 billion dollars in FDI. The business seems to rely in part on sustained growth, despite the weight on the economy of the tightening of Chinese monetary policy, and partly on a strong yuan. For the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Beijing enjoys the disaffection of investors in Europe and the United States.

As for U.S. criticism that Joe Biden will take over on the low level of the Chinese currency, they may be blank. The yuan, also considered undervalued Washington, hit record highs Tuesday.The central bank, which sets every morning during a pivot around which the yuan can fluctuate by 0.5% above or below, identified Tuesday as the low point, the level of one dollar for 6.3925. In other words, the Chinese currency has appreciated by 7% since dropping the dollar in June 2010. But some investors are betting on the inflationary pressure to force Beijing to let its currency move more.

Red Cedar rising from the ashes. The brand furniture and decorating high-end look forward to sign this year a profitable year, after reaching the balance last year. "Our sales have increased sixfold, from 1 to 6 million euros in 2010. We expect a turnover of 8-9000000 euros this year, "said CEO Henry the Minstrel. A great success because, in its heyday in the early 2000s, Red Cedar posted sales barely higher (12 million euros in 2001). And by exploiting ten stores, not two, like today.

The company suffered a severe weight loss, following its failed merger with Le Prince Jardinier in 2006.When Henri Le Menestrel, accompanied by the fund Nextstage already present in the capital (20% today), took over the business in late 2008, the group "was making a million sales and a million casualties," recalls it. He who had just sell its media agency online Lagardère decided to open a shop for a new genre, while preserving the historical site at Châtelet and the brand, much appreciated. "We have broken the codes of high-end furniture, installing Red Cedar Feucherolles end of 2009, twenty minutes drive from the Porte d'Auteuil, in the fields," says its CEO. Having seen that "unlike the fashion industry, the decoration brands have never built their own store and are difficult," he wants a "multi-specialist" and exposes the Fermob chairs, sofas and Marie's Corner sunshades in the "dedicated showrooms."

The project won: true destination of family visits on weekends, the store was expanded this summer, for the fourth time, from 700 square meters two years ago in late September 4200. Besides the fifty brands presented, the brands of Red Cedar – tables and mailboxes with Christmas decorations – there are still very place. "With little marks in furniture and decorating high-end customers need to compare really to understand the quality factors and to choose the range that suits them," said Henri Le Menestrel.

Seize opportunities

Same strategy to the shop on the Internet, including a new version has just been put online: the user can learn and even to shop, but it is especially encouraged to move Feucherolles.For if the sign already generates 10% of its sales on the Internet, she wants to see progress especially the number of visitors.

"We feared that the store does Châtelet suffers from the rise of that of Feucherolles, but the opposite is true!", Says the CEO. These good results may prompt Red Cedar to relocate in town to present, for example, one or more product categories in smaller areas. It is precisely to capture "many and varied opportunities" of this type, but also small acquisitions like that of a small specialist light in early 2009, as Nextstage invest in the fall about 2.5 million. A larger amount than in 2008 (1.5 million), a sign of his confidence and that will advance the participation of the fund to 30%.

How to make the Greek economy to become as competitive as the German? Nothing simpler. "I guess the teachers of vocational schools and skilled craftsmen to retire would be willing to be sent (in Greece) fixed-term" is to suggest the European Commissioner for Energy, German Günther Oettinger in an interview with the Hamburger Abendblatt. "We hope that the German economic culture will allow transfer to Greece," said simultaneously the Minister of Economy, Philipp Rösler, also Vice Chancellor Merkel's government as head of the Liberal party.

The Minister of barely 38 years of Vietnamese origin, embodies the virtues of miscegenation and he is proud payday loans for bad credit. Philipp Rösler considers that there is no reason why the methods used to shore up the former communist East Germany do not work in favor of Greece.His words, the hints of cultural imperialism, appear a bit naive. But they clearly reflect a large part of public opinion in Germany. And after all not ready do we not have to Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of Europe, this formula, "If it again, I would start with culture"? It's now or never to try.

"Avada Kedavra!" From the Aramaic "adhadda kedhabhra" meaning "that the thing be destroyed", the magic world of Harry Potter describes perfectly how the saga has shelved the James Bond and Other War stars of a economic point of view. On the eve of the release of the eighth and final installment of the series in dark rooms ("Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"), the figures give the spin: in total, the first seven films have generated some 6 , $ 4 billion (4.4 billion euros) in revenue worldwide, according to the U.S. studios Warner Bros. By itself, the first film adaptation in 2001 was worth almost a billion dollars.

Most successful in the history of cinema, the adventures of the bespectacled wizard is also the most successful global publishing.Since the release of first installment, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in 1997, over 400 million books were sold, having been translated into 69 languages ​​and 200 territories.

Consequence of its popularity, the saga has been an all-out merchandising. In all, video games and other clothing, stuffed animals and candy bearing the image of the heroes of the series would yield more than a billion a year, according to AFP. In June 2010, a theme park has even opened its doors in the United States. Stamped "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" ("The Wizarding World of Harry Potter"), the attraction has cost $ 200 million, and would experience a growing success since its opening.

20 million books sold in France

Well represented in the saga (including the Academy of Magic Beaubâtons), France has not escaped this wave.According Gallimard Jeunesse, which has an exclusive publishing contract, the figure of 20 million copies sold recently passed. In the dark rooms of the Hexagon, the adventures of Harry made a card, even if the number of entries went out over the decrescendo. The first movie ("Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone") has attracted some 9.4 million entries, against almost 6 million for the first part of the seventh installment.

Olivier Snanoudj, vice president of Warner Bros France, the decline in the number of entries "not surprising" since, over the episodes, movies, like the books have become "increasingly dark ". "As a young child, and by extension their parents or grandparents, came to the movies less," said he. This does not prevent targeting "a minimum" the bar of the six million tickets for the final film in the series."All fans want to see the end" of the adventures of young wizard, he bet.

Gallimard reissued the series in October

Display, advertisements in the press, promotion on the Internet … Nothing in any case been left to chance to boost inflows. Thus, the film was scheduled at the beginning of the school holidays and in the wake of the film festival, a promotional weapon of choice. Highlight of the campaign, a preview was held by Warner Bros. on Tuesday evening at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy. "We installed the largest 3D screen in the world with six projectors, for an audience of 8000 people," recites the vice president of the distributor.

Via this strategy, the distributor looks forward "to revive the cash machine in particular in view of Christmas sales, or special boxes will probably days," slips a specialist.Hand books, Gallimard Jeunesse has relatively good performance of the game first, "the release of the latest installment in the film is likely to boost the sale of books, as has always been the case in the past," said Frédérique haunch, responsible for the communication of the publisher. And to project, announcing a repeat of the saga, in Volume by volume, from the month of October. With the menu, "new coverage to be carried out by the famous English designer Jonathan Gray," she says. Thus, Gallimard Jeunesse renewed the assault of a young audience, "from 8 to 10 years, as we did 15 years ago." On the commercial side, Harry Potter has not said its last word.

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While the crucial talks between government and private creditors of Greece continued the last few hours across Europe, they rose sharply in Paris. Reportedly, the French Treasury and financial institutions have agreed on the night of Friday to Saturday on a proposal that they hope to win their European partners now. Important first step, a highly anticipated meeting of the IIR (International Institute of Finance), which groups 400 banks worldwide, will be held on Monday in Rome.

It will be remembered, European governments have launched negotiations Wednesday with the holders of Greek debt. They are seeking a contribution of banks, insurers and other pension funds to the tune of 30 billion euros, backed by a new extension of Europe and the IMF to Greece.So far, the proposal on the table was simple: the voluntary, private creditors agreed to reinvest in due proportion the debts repaid by Athens over the next three years in new loans Greek to 5 years. It is the "rollover". However, private capital, especially German, had requested that these new loans are guaranteed in one way or another by Europe. But Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, refused this demand, which is to transfer the responsibility of the public an additional part of the burden.

Hence the impasse. The problem for private financiers, is to pay a state that nothing says it will be out of trouble in five years, the plan has expired. Of course, under pressure from governments, banks and insurers could be convinced.But specifically, if the process is not perceived as voluntary, rating agencies may raise the flag of the "default" and the plan falls overboard because the ECB can no longer accept sovereign debt and stigmatized in the refinancing of Greek banks cheap business cards.The French proposal is a parade, making the "rollover" both more attractive and relevant to them and to Athens, by lengthening maturities.

New loans to 30 years

In addition to the original proposal, a working group led by BNP Paribas, in fact, imagined an alternative, opening the opportunity to reinvest only 70% of amounts received in connection with the Greek borrowing fell 50% are allocated to Greek new loans issued this time in 30 years as to 20%, they are placed on what the financial call a "zero coupon", ie a fund invested in securities of high quality self-reinforcing through then cumulation of interests: the piggy bank somehow secures new borrowing Greek, as would have government guarantees.According to the discussions, these borrowings could be long carry an interest rate equivalent to that of Greece pays vis-à-vis its "rescuers" public, with the addition of a variable interest rate likely to be linked to an economic indicator Greek, such as GDP.

In any case, this alternative would yield less per creditor only 50% returned to the Treasury Greek but is likely to attract more people. And above all, by providing funding for 30 years, she pushes the horizon in part refunds for Athens. The French solution began circulating in the corridors of the European Council on Friday. "We received an initial favorable response," says a close case.

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Announced in January, the IPO was expected Groupon. The figures that he has revealed in the record filed Thursday with the U.S. stock market authorities were much less. The website, which plans to raise $ 750 million in stock on a valuation estimated at between 15 and 20 billion dollars, in fact displays significant losses.

Created in November 2008 by Andrew Mason, a student of music, with one million dollars entrusted by entrepreneur Eric Lefkofsky, Groupon offers users to receive promotions from local businesses – florists, beauty salons … – provided that a specified number of Internet users subscribe to the offer. Over 83 million users have subscribed to the service. They were 1.8 million at end 2009. The turnover increased from 94,000 dollars in 2008 to 713,400,000 dollars in 2010.In 2011, revenues could exceed $ 2.4 billion. Growth driven by the acquisition of 13 companies, including Citydeal in Europe.

413 million loss

Groupon losses widen at a rate just as dramatically. In 2010, the net deficit of the site has reached 413 million dollars. For the first quarter of 2011, it already stands at nearly 114 million, says the briefing book. Abysmal losses that already raise doubts as to analysts who fear a new Internet bubble.Sucharita Mulpuru, e-commerce specialist at Forrester, and wondered how can one "lose so much money?" This is crazy with these numbers is that it should model extremely profitable, "he said The Wall Street Journal.

"Groupon has a very healthy business model, based on e-commerce, thus capable of generating cash," said Jonathan Besnaïou, co-founder of Oh My Deal, a site that aggregates and compares the offerings from its competitors and Groupon. "We must not forget that this is a service where the consumer pays first Groupon, which then pays the merchant on the one hand," he recalls.

If Groupon now displays such losses, it is because it invests heavily in customer acquisition – both businesses and users. The start-up business on account 3500 7000 employees worldwide.Considerable labor costs for a startup but can eventually turn into competitive advantage.

Another advantage of Groupon: the site has steadily expanded its offering – one coupon per day to more targeted deals, for example – to stick as closely to the needs of its users. His dedicated service to the mobile, Groupon Now, promises to be the next growth driver Groupon. Andrew Mason, the young CEO of the company, clearly displays the color in a statement of intent that reveals the very special culture Groupon: "As with any young company of 30 months, the road to success is strewn with pitfalls, punctuated moments of brilliance and sheer stupidity of others, "he wrote, convinced that" Groupon is better positioned than anyone to redefine the local business "and determined to focus on" a long term growth. "