International News

The Paris Stock Exchange began the week in the red, as at the close Friday. The CAC 40 plunges 2.28% to 2 914.30 points in mid-session. The debt crisis continues because of European concern the markets, and lead the outlook for global growth. The fear of lead and impact in China Asian stock markets are in the red Monday morning, dropping the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by almost 5%.

Elsewhere in Europe, falling 2.03% London, Frankfurt and Madrid 2.54% 2.34% 1.75% and Milan.

Greece announced Sunday night that it would lack its budget deficit targets. The second Country Assistance Plan will be on the menu for more discussion this week: Monday, finance ministers of the euro area will meet in Luxembourg to 17 pm and Tuesday, those of the entire European Union.This will then be the turn of the Franco-German Nicolas Sarkozy said he expected to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel "in the coming days in Germany" to discuss in particular "ways and means to accelerate economic integration the euro area ".

The private sector activity in the euro area at its lowest for 25 months

Also note, the new car registrations in France are divided down in September after the brief respite in August, returning to the trend observed since the disappearance of the scrapping, according to figures released Monday.They were down 1.4% unadjusted and 1.4% also comparable number of working days from September 2010 to 167,600 units, according to the Committee of French Automobile Manufacturers (CCFA).

The private sector activity contracted in September in the euro area, the PMI purchasing managers' standing at 48.5 points against 50.7 in August, according to a second estimate released Monday. This is the index the lowest in 25 months, Markit said the company, which publishes the index.

In this context, oil prices have opened lower. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for November delivery lost 50 cents to 78.70 dollars in early electronic trading.A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for November delivery gave up 77 cents to 101.99 dollars.

As for currencies, the euro lost ground and is worth 1.3315 dollars and 102.6 yen, against more than 104 yen in the middle of last week.

Dexia degraded by Moody's

The title of the Franco-Belgian bank collapsed Monday in the Paris Stock Exchange, after rating agency Moody's Investors Service had threatened to lower its rating, because of fears about its liquidity personal loan for poor credit. In early trading, the value lost 11.54% to 1.28 euro, after being briefly suspended for dropping too fast to open.Halfway through it limited its losses slightly receding 8.78% to 1.32 euros.

In the wake of Dexia, BNP Paribas let go just under 6% in mid-session, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale 4.9% near 6.5%.

AXA (-4.14% to 9.49 euros)

The first offers for Axa Privaty Equity (AXA PE), the division of equity sold by Axa, must be filed early next week, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Renault (-2.67% to 24.40 euros)

The group announced Saturday the construction of a new plant in Brazil and the expansion of another existing site to boost its presence in the fourth global automotive market.

France Telecom (-2.24% to 12.02 euros)

European Commissioner Neelie Kroes digital strategy is expected to announce on Monday that the EU wants to reduce the revenue that incumbents derive copper telecommunications networks to boost investment in fiber optics.

Air France-KLM (-3.28% to 5.36 euros)

Alexander Juniac could take the management of Air France in January in favor of a reorganization of the Air France KLM with Pierre-Henri Gourgeon retain the reins, according to La Tribune published on Monday.

Steria (-3.96% to 12.14 euros)

The computer services company was awarded a public contract with the French Ministry of Budget, Public Accounts, the Civil Service and State Reform, to ensure the implementation of the Information System (HRIS) to several departments that will ultimately pay more than 3 million employees of state.

Hermes (-4.23% to 216.30 euros)

The group currently finds no sign of spending restraint to its customers despite a darkening economic outlook, said Sunday the manager of the French luxury group on the fringes of Paris Fashion Week.

Carmat (18.20% to 102.82 euros)

The designer of the total artificial heart on Monday announced that preclinical data will be presented at the 25th Annual Congress of the European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Lisbon on October 4.

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Barack Obama has heard Warren Buffett. One month after the American billionaire's call to raise taxes of the richest in the United States, Barack Obama will propose on Monday during a speech at the White House – expected at 16:30 French time – a special tax on the income of taxpayers earning over a million dollars a year (about 725,000 euros). The U.S. president should not indicate the precise tax rate that it intends to apply or the amount it hoped to achieve by this. But according to The New York Times, the tax on millionaires only for 0.3% of taxpayers, less than 450,000 of the 144 million returns recorded in 2010.

Dubbed the "rule Buffett," this tax is in terms of reducing the budget deficit that the U.S. president must explain to Congress Monday.Its goal? Ensure that the wealthiest taxpayers pay at least as much taxes as middle-class homes. This is not the case, as pointed out by Warren Buffett this summer, because of certain provisions of the Tax Code.

1200 billion dollars in savings to find

Thus, capital income such as dividends or interest earned by the fund managers are taxed at 15%, while labor incomes are between 10 to 35%. "While the poorer classes and middle classes are fighting for us in Afghanistan, while most Americans struggle to make ends meet month we mega-wealthy continue to benefit from special tax exemptions," wrote Warren Buffett in an article published last month in The New York Times.

This tax should allow Barack Obama to approach a little more of his electoral base of the Democratic Party criticized him his "gifts" to tax the wealthiest people. The Republican majority in the House of Representatives have already announced that he would vote no tax increase.

While the United States must find 1.2 trillion dollars in savings by the end of the year, Barack Obama warned on Saturday the Americans that they would provide "pull their weight" to reduce the budget deficit. And pressed again, the Congress, including Republicans, to adopt his plan for the use of 447 billion dollars. "More games or impasses. More division or delay, "he said during his weekly radio address.

While a lack of Greece is closer every day, the question of the nationalization of banks is back on the front of the stage due to the exposure of French banks to Greece. In exchange, banking stocks are under pressure. Since the beginning of the year, Societe Generale, in fact, over 60% of its stock value and displays a low for 20 years, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole, a little less than half.

A situation that the political leaders finally responded. "A nationalization of French banks is totally premature and beside the point," said this morning the Minister of Industry, Eric Besson, on RMC / BFM TV. The latter said that the banks have "very well" stress tests Europe last summer.

If right, then we answer in the negative, this is not the case on the side of the Socialist Party.Thus, to François Hollande, the Socialist candidate for the primary, "If it happened that there is a lack of Greece and the banks are brought to realize losses, there would be an appeal to the State, as in the subprime crisis. The state should not lend to banks, but must take a stake in their capital, "he told the Journal du Dimanche.

"The banks have lied to us in 2008"

For their part, EU officials remain confident in the strength of French banks. The President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, has confirmed that central banks were ready to provide liquidity to banks should they need it cash advance loan. "Whatever the scenario Greek and therefore regardless of the provisions to go, French banks have the means to cope," said Christian Noyer, Governor of the Bank of France.

What some experts do not agree. "Banks have lied in 2008 and probably still hiding toxic chemicals in their balance sheets," said Marc Fiorentino, CEO of Monfinancier.com, the JDD. Societe Generale has just announced a new savings plan which relate primarily toxic assets, mainly U.S., made unwanted by the financial crisis and the explosion of the market "subprime" U.S..

For the expert, "The State must enter the capital of French banks up to 30%." Which he said would cost taxpayers between 50 and 100 billion euros. Same story on the side of Dessertine Philippe, Director of the Institute of High Finance. "The state is the only one who can help banks recapitalize," he says.The question is how the state will fund this operation and especially if nationalization does not require that other European countries do the same.

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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%.