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McDonald's could have done this new scandal. Committed for 10 years in a campaign to improve its image and to defend the quality of its products, the giant U.S. fast food undergoes further attacks of his detractors. At issue this time, the treatment of chickens by a subcontractor of the group providing the eggs used in the preparation of McDonald's products. The title of the video is unequivocal: "McDonald's, the truth rotten egg McMuffin"

Made with a hidden camera and broadcast for the first time Friday on ABC, the video was shot by Mercy for Animals Association (Pity for animals) in a poultry farm in Minnesota "Sparbo Egg Farms" .

China, U.S., Brazil, Japan … For two days in Cannes, the speech was unanimous: "Saving the euro to save us from ourselves." On the way to do this, however, and on the money to gamble, there are still far from the cup and the lip.

Twisted smile politely explaining the Japanese representative "wait for clarification techniques on European political situation," sharp statement of the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, which "does not intend to contribute directly to the European financial stability while European refrain "… As summarized brutally German Chancellor Angela Merkel," there is hardly anyone in the G20 to invest in the European financial stability "-the EFSF, which is used to avoid spread of the debt crisis to other countries, after Greece.

After a G20 parasitized by this crisis of European sovereign debt, the French presidency has nevertheless saved the point. The twenty richest countries have agreed to "boost growth, create jobs and ensure financial stability." An important phrase in the context of global economic slowdown the temptation of protectionism and isolationism is very strong. But unlike the summits in London and Pittsburg, in 2008 and 2009, no figures dramatically to install confidence and restart the machine. Fiscal imbalances of the major developed countries prevent it.

"A successful but more work"

Paris has nonetheless achieved significant progress in convincing every country to take action at his level to stimulate its economy.

Many individuals prefer to keep their cash rather than warm place in the markets. The storm was the market could only reinforce this position. However, taking the trouble to dig a little, there are various investment avenues to explore. We offer three, through ETFs and funds.

Corporate bonds, small return for a limited risk

The first idea, for those who are tired of exposure to the debts of states is to turn to big companies a solid, popular with rating agencies. Compensation is greater than 3%. Above all, the defects are rare. These bonds have weathered the crisis well because in 2008, Markit index of large financial obligations out gained 1.85%. Obligations to expose themselves to quality, we recommend going through a tracker.The fund, management fees very low, continuously quoted on the Bourse de Paris, can invest confidently (code: FR0010814236).

The high yield, large compensation for significant risk

The junk bonds, as they are called the Anglo-Saxons have a bad reputation. Yet they can be very profitable in the long run. Indeed, the annual yield is greater than 9%. In addition, the risk is often exaggerated on these bonds. After degradation, Peugeot and Lafarge are after example in the category high efficiency. To invest in these securities, we recommend again to go through a tracker. The Lyxor on 30 bonds seems ideal. It provides immediate liquidity and management fees ridiculous, which is far from the case for other funds. ISIN code FR0010975771 is.

Shares with high dividends for the long term

It is hard to miss the action with a strong performance. On average, the CAC 40 shares of 5% relate. It is not uncommon for actions bring more than 6% as Total, Vivendi or property. Choose a fund comprising shares with good dividends ensures more consistent performance. Many funds have forged strong reputations. Indeed, in this case, talent managers can make a difference as it is to ensure that dividends are regular and, as far as possible, guaranteed. Among the funds that have caught our attention, citions Pictet-High Dividend Selection (Code: LU0503634221).

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"The euro is a rock against the crisis. "This declaration of Gylfi Arnbjornsson, President of Iceland's largest union, released in turmoil in the euro area, out of place. "While a small floating national currency increases the flexibility and affects employees," he insists. Bryndis, she does not believe more in the EU and the euro area. "It does not work. The crown, however, allowed us to emerge quickly from the crisis, "said the young woman, who works in a bookstore, very committed to the sovereignty of his country. These two strong views illustrate the gap between pro-and anti-Europe.

Iceland began on June 27 last formal negotiations to enter the European Union. At the end, Icelanders will vote in a referendum.The challenge for the small island in the far north that is just three years of severe recession, is to join the single currency.

The debate in Reykjavik is far from settled, including the center-left coalition government, like the Minister of Economy Social Democratic supporter of the euro and its counterpart of Finance defends the virtues of the crown.

"The devaluation of over 40% has boosted the competitiveness of our exports. The gain exceeds the final cost. Unemployment would have been much worse, "says Green Minister Steingrimur Sigfusson. With two key economic sectors: aluminum and fishing account for 80% of exports. In this land swept by the waters and winds so imposing nature, the farm lobby and fishing make their voices heard. They reject the decisions of Brussels and its quotas.Yet, in fact, Iceland is already integrated into the European Union.

The case "Icesave" three years ago that poisons relations with Great Britain and the Netherlands also maintained Euroscepticism. The State has spent 15% of GDP to save its national banks but refused to compensate the foreign customers of the bank Icesave, bankruptcy. An early decision of the European Court of Justice could force Reykjavik to set the slate of 8 billion euros. "The bank Landsbanki has the means to repay by selling its assets revalued since the crisis," said the minister.

Indebtedness

Three years to regain control of the IMF, the economy drastically, radical restructuring of the banks have put the country on track for growth, helped by a crown devalued no faxing pay day loans.In the field, if the maintenance of a welfare state and the strength of social ties, related to the geography of the place and its small population, have reduced the impact, the crisis is far from over. Reflecting Hildigunnur Sverrisdottir, 35, architect, married with three children. "We are living a nightmare, every month, our debts pile up, we have no visibility and perspective," she confesses.

This family alone synthesizes all the symptoms of the crisis Iceland: Hidlig lost his job after the explosion of the housing bubble, the couple bought a house at full price. They chose a loan in foreign currency – yen, Swiss franc and euro – more attractive as deemed stable and offering lower interest rates. This not to mention local specificity to index mortgages on inflation, which reached its highest, 18%.Result, many Icelanders have seen the value of their loans soar. "In my generation, everyone has lost an average of 10 million crowns," says Hubert Koziet, who suffered a pay cut and an increase of one third of its credit.

Unable to repay their credit, Hidlig and her husband were offered a government program, reserved for owners 13 .500, which is to cap credit 110% of the value of the dwelling and convert crown. "We do not know what to do, we are still negotiating with our bank, we do not rule out leaving the country. Many of our friends, architect, engineer, accountant … went to Denmark and the United States. "

Counter the brain drain and attract new investment, are the future challenges for sustainable growth in Iceland. Because the economy remains crippled by capital controls and political instability.Ironically, today is not money that is lacking in the small island – banks are full of capital that the Icelanders and businesses could exfiltrer abroad – but it suffers from a lack of confidence in the future and the political elites.

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The general crisis of confidence in the financial system can benefit the socially responsible investment (SRI), this offer of investment products which, in the traditional financial measures, add the dimensions called ESG (environmental, social / societal, governance) ? At first glance, yes. Assets invested in SRI in France have soared in recent years. End of 2010, they reached 68.3 billion euros, against 50.7 billion in late 2009, an increase of 35%. And the year 2011 looks very good. According Novethic, a subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts, which publishes research and analysis on the SRI market since 2001, these assets had already reached 47 billion euros at the end of June.

Small flat, struggling to win these investments from individuals.Institutional clients (pension and insurance plans, public pension funds, private insurance companies, mutual companies, etc..) Still accounted for 70% of SRI assets in late 2010. A study conducted by Ipsos agency for non-financial rating Eiris * 60% of French investors, however, now give prominence to environmental, social and ethical issues in their investment decisions. But 64% of respondents have never heard of SRI, and only 9% are on the page.

Latent demand unsatisfied

"There is a latent demand unmet in a number of individual investors now significant," says Marion de Marcillac, responsible for developing the French office of EIRIS.This view is shared Bertrand Fournier, president of the Forum for Responsible Investment (FIR): "The offer is not visible and distribution networks do not talk about SRI." For Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Minister Ecology and Sustainable Development, however, the context is conducive to flight. "SRI is probably an answer to the financial and banking crisis we are experiencing," said the minister during the presentation of the study, on October 6. "Reconnect citizens with finance is a vast undertaking, which requires industrial issues to reconnect with the financial issues and give concrete meaning to financial products," she said.

Therefore Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet calls to market players, foremost among banks and insurers, to commit themselves to "promote a responsible offer of financial investments."She stressed the need to provide transparent information to individuals, especially as the multiplicity of approaches to SRI in Europe scrambles some tracks. In France, the multi-criteria approach called "Best in Class" prevails. This is to select the best companies in each sector according to the famous ESG. Anglo-Saxons and Scandinavians, in turn, prefer a strategy of exclusion. In this case, certain industries such as armaments or tobacco, are simply discarded SRI funds.

The French approach in question

According to EIRIS survey, 36% of French investors said they were very tempted by an approach that would exclude certain companies because of the nature of their activities or practices such as child labor. Only 19% of respondents say they are, however, very tempted by the method of "Best in Class".Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, "no subject is taboo. The 'Week of SRI' * is an opportunity to initiate discussions, particularly on the definition of criteria for responsible investing. "

* Survey conducted among a sample of 1040 French adults aged 16-64 years from 16 to 19 September 2011.

* The second edition of the "Week of the Socially Responsible Investment" will run from October 10 to 16, under the Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development.

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Controllers return to work gradually. After La Rochelle and Paris Sud Est (Gare de Lyon), several sites have voted Friday morning to return to work, like Bordeaux, Reims, Chambery, Dijon, Lyon, St Etienne, Toulouse or Besancon. Other websites should take a similar decision at general meetings planned in the afternoon. The management of the SNCF

Many controllers SNCF had exercised their right to withdraw on Thursday afternoon to work after the announcement of the attack on a colleague on a train on the Corail Lyon-Strasbourg. In an interview with Figaro.fr, the president of the SNCF appealed to the coolness of the railway to resume work soon and would discuss with the unions to turn.Management has undertaken to present an emergency plan with the security services.

Traffic TGV, Corail and TER is still disrupted, although the situation has improved significantly over the entire network, including 8-9 in 10 TGV from and to Paris and a TER of 2. To find out if their train is running, users are encouraged to consult regularly Infolignes site, or call toll free (free from a landline) 0805 90 36 35 credit score.

Toll and information site

SNCF always invites customers to delay their trip or take alternate means of transportation. Ticket holders whose train was canceled may obtain a refund, or take any train leaving for the same destination without the need to exchange their ticket. Good news however for users Transilien (train network in the Île-de-France), the Thalys and Eurostar.Traffic on these lines is normal according to SNCF.

"There is no point in penalizing travelers"

The strike controller led Thursday the cancellation of all trains at night, and created a big mess all over the country. According to the station, all passengers stranded at the station in the evening were able to reach their destination or were assisted to find accommodation for the night. According to the Ministry of the Interior, it was not necessary to set up emergency housing plan.
Board trains at the Gare Saint-Charles in Marseille. Photo credits: GERARD JULIEN / AFP

Febrile atmosphere around Dexia announced the dismantling of which is to organize. On Thursday afternoon, the rating on the stock exchange was suspended at the request of the Belgian regulator: the action was losing more than 17% amid rumors that many French-Belgian bank was forced each time to confirm or to reverse. It will again be listed on Monday.

Dexia has confirmed to be entered into exclusive negotiations "with a group of international investors that the government of Luxembourg will attend" to sell its subsidiary private bank, the BIL (Banque Internationale à Luxembourg). This discussion has actually been mainly engaged with the sovereign fund of Qatar, several sources indicate.The Luxembourg Finance Minister, Luc Frieden, for his part justified the participation of the Grand Duchy as a "minority shareholder" in the name of "systemic" to his country of BIL's 12 billion euros of deposits and forty traditional bank branches.

The first assignment could be raised on Saturday by the Board of Directors of Dexia, intended, according to a close case, to "calibrate the overall strategy of the division of Dexia."

This strategy is already known in outline. This is to sell every major business or large branch. Dexia will gradually emptied of its substance and its assets down to the most difficult to sell, mainly the bond portfolio of 95 billion euros and a life of thirteen years.The State guarantee French and Belgian finance Dexia and ultimately apply to "cantonment" business card templates.

On this basis, negotiations, under pressure from the markets and financial authorities who fear a confusion between the case of Dexia and the rest of the European banking sector are extremely complex: in addition to buyers interested in a particular asset, discussion involving the management of Dexia, its shareholders and the Belgian side the French side, and the states.

Mutual distrust

However, the pattern holds only insofar as the current shareholders of Dexia are collectively responsible. The centrifugal forces exerted, especially in Belgium, must be curbed. Thursday, pushing the Belgian regions, according to local press, a scheme of demerger of the retail DBB (Dexia Bank Belgium).

Seen from France, the idea goes wrong, since the ultimate goal of the operation is that the sale of assets – DBB is a price – reported enough money to build the hive and absorb as much as possible losses that would otherwise eventually be collected by the states.

The mistrust is mutual. On the Belgian side, Prime Minister Yves Leterme has hammered yesterday that his country did not intend to be alone with Dexia on the arms. "We must continue to fund all the past, and we will not do it alone," said the Finance Minister Didier Reynders. On this side of the border, negotiations continue on the transfer of the portfolio and lending activities to local authorities in the Deposit and La Banque Postale.

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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.

Prevention rather than cure. Monday, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, CEO of Air France, met with unions to prepare them for a more austere than expected return. Deemed "constructive" by the company management, the meeting was to "share" a moody vision of the coming months, which will result in a strengthening economy measures probably formalized in October after the committee Strategic Air France-KLM.

In 2010-2011, Air France announced a cost reduction of nearly 600 million euros. This time, no figures were mentioned. But Monday, Pierre-Henri Gourgeon spoke of "the lack of visibility" on the economic and spoke of the "specter of recession."

No to social at first. A voluntary redundancy scheme has indeed completed at Air France. In two years, the company lost 10% of its workforce.It is not clear that new candidates would raise his finger when a window was open initially. "We should make use of unwanted departures. Now we want to respect the social contract of the company, "said one member of management. Yet behind the scenes, some trade unionists believe that a cost reduction plan will not be enough: "If growth is not to go, plan on removing items from 5,000 to 10,000 is to be feared," stated Monday a trade unionist. Air France has 58,000 employees.

"We will target the fixed-term contracts and temporary contracts and make greater use of outsourcing," lists a spokesman. The hiring freeze, eased in recent months again become very strict.But the recruitment of drivers provided as part of the opening of bases from province to Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux should not be affected payday loans.

Air France will ask all departments to review their budget down. Each manager will be responsible for making proposals in this direction, allowing a second step to calculate the new plan to reduce costs. Another source of savings, reduced capacity of the company, that is to say the removal of flights. After the announcement in late July from a reduction in the growth of long-haul traffic during the winter, is now expected to do the same during the summer of 2012.

In ten days of the announcement of his mégacommande of long-haul aircraft, shared with KLM, the management of Air France said that his austerity plan, however, should not affect aircraft deliveries.

The arrival of Alitalia

A new period of turbulence looks while the current management of Air France to start his estate. The prospective dolphins Pierre-Henri Gourgeon shall take the levers when the profitability of the company has won compared to that of its major European competitors such as Lufthansa or IAG (involving British Airways and Iberia). For its part Lufthansa said on Monday it would sell its subsidiary to British Midlands, which allowed him to gain a foothold in London.

Air France-KLM does not transfer. The Franco-Dutch group is preparing for a majority stake in Alitalia.

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After launching its offer in May with mobile calls, text messages and unlimited internet for 24.90 euros monthly subscribers to its box (and 49.90 euro for non-subscribers), Numericable goes further. Reportedly, the operator will now enable call abroad from the mobile unlimited. An option to pay 10 euros per month, which will be available as of September 19 for all.

"This is a world first, exclusive service and unprecedented," enthuses Jerome Yomtov, general secretary of Numericable. "We want to bring all the mobile services already on the box at home, at home or abroad called unlimited," he says. Over 100 countries are included in this offer, including most major destinations throughout Europe, the DOM, the United States, Canada, Asia.It is extended to calls to Morocco and Algeria for Numericable subscribers who have subscribed to the "Maghreb More" on the NCbox.

This new offering "world" not only to make calls to landlines abroad, but also to the Chinese mobile, U.S. and Canada. And supply expected to be enriched in the coming months. "You can call the U.S. since its unlimited mobile to 34.90 euros a month. United States, to call a mobile to mobile unlimited is $ 70. In short, it will be cheaper to call the U.S. from France, than to be there! "Said Jérôme Yomtov.

Numericable says the offer will be profitable.While the cost of communications decline in Europe and the world, he found a business model by negotiating agreements with major international operators such as Verizon, Telefonica, Cable and Wireless, Tata Communications.

One way to cut the grass under the feet of Free which means lower prices but also change the mobile uses. "This is the mobile revolution continues," trumpets for days on Numericable Tweeter … which led to his being sued by Free, which considers the term as its slogan identity. Atmosphere!

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