International News

Between the French listed companies and U.S. investors, the reports are looking good. Despite the crisis, Paris remains the third preferred destination after Great Britain and Germany. But this affinity could become even more intensity, if we believe a research firm Financial Dynamics on the attractiveness of companies listed on the Paris Stock Exchange with 30 institutional investors on Wall Street. Europe weighs only 13.8% of their portfolio and the size of France went a small 1.6%, which suggests the study, could grow if the managements of French companies were showing "greater transparency and if the publications were more accurate results and frequent. All these qualities, however, already claimed by large listed companies. Yet Americans remain unsatisfied.While 62% feel well informed about investment opportunities, 38% complain that they do not quite grasp the subtleties of the governance and regulation at the French. This does not prevent them from playing for high: 39% of respondents prefer large-cap, over 10 billion euros. And 23% opt for those between 5 and 9.99 billion euros.

To choose between two companies in the euro area, 53% of investors focus first on to dissect the "fundamentals", only 16% consider the prospects for growth as critical. Which is good in this day and age.

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.

ALSO READ:

The Greek debt riskier than ever

"SPECIAL – Greece, a challenge for Europe

If confirmed, this would be the heaviest fine ever imposed by the U.S. National Highway Safety Agency (NHTSA) to a manufacturer. This requires the Japanese Toyota fined 16.375 million dollars (12.191 million euros). A record amount justified, she said, by the slow reaction of the manufacturer's faults found and deliberately concealed its vehicles.

The U.S. government accuses him of hiding Toyota for "at least four months' issues of accelerators is jamming in the down position, and this" contempt of risk "led to drivers. According to the Minister of Transport Ray LaHood, the leaders of Toyota "did not take steps to protect millions of drivers and their families."

Toyota has two weeks to pay the fine or contest it.If he refuses to pay and can not agree with NHTSA, the matter will be referred to a court.

Procedural defects

The NHTSA had opened an investigation last February 16 to see if Toyota had been slow to reveal these problems, finds a first time Toyota has not notified within five days after discovery of problems, as the law The imposed.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT), the 70,000 pages of documents presented by Toyota have revealed that the manufacturer "knew his problems pedals are jamming on their own since at least September 29.It was at that date that Toyota "has launched repair procedures with its distributors from 31 European countries and Canada to address issues accelerator stuck, sudden increase and tachometer sudden acceleration of the vehicle, "says the report.

But the documents show that "Toyota knew that consumers in the United States suffered the same problems as those in Europe and Canada.Yet, September 29, the band announced the recall of 3.8 million vehicles in the U.S. claiming only the possibility that the accelerator pedal gets stuck in the floor mat and ignoring the problems of blocking pedals 'themselves in the lowest position online cash advance.

It was not until January 21 that the manufacturer recalls 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S., reported first involuntary acceleration unconnected mats but the pedals are blocking themselves . In the end, Toyota has recalled more than 6 million vehicles in the U.S. on 9 million recalled in the world.Either the largest recall ever recorded by an automaker.

Organizational Change

In a statement, Toyota has defended: "We have already taken a significant number of measures to improve our communication with regulators and clients on security issues and strengthened our commitment to quality." This includes "the appointment of a new director of quality in North America and a greater role dedicated to regional leaders in the decision making process related to quality," says the manufacturer.

But the DOT has not said its last word. He announced as still investigating to determine if the manufacturer had "committed other offenses meriting further sanctions."

Reminders continue

Meanwhile, Toyota continues its recall campaign.The Japanese announced Tuesday its intention to recall 12,984 vehicles sold in South Korea because of mats may impede the accelerator pedal.

The three models involved are the Lexus ES350, Camry and Camry Hybrid. Motorists concerned will receive free repairs from April 19.

ALSO READ:

"Toyota resists crisis reminders

"Car: Toyota passes the second U.S.

"FILE – Toyota: the end of u myth?

An ad that was not one. The Russians do not enter the race for the tender of 35 billion dollars to supply 179 tanker aircraft to the U.S.. The company export Russian Rosoboronexport arms and aerospace manufacturer United Aircraft Corp (UAC) denied Monday to prepare a proposal.

Friday night, it was about a partnership between UAC and "a U.S. publicly traded" interfering in the list of contenders for the giant contract.At least that's what John had said Kirkland, who appeared as counsel for the future identity.

April Fools before the hour

"We know absolutely nothing of this tender," said Vyacheslav Davidenko, spokesman for the Russian arms exporter, the only Russian company authorized to participate in tenders of foreign military personal loans for people with bad credit .

With UAC, the news was taken with humor: "I think someone is preparing to advance an April Fool," said spokesman UAC, which said not even know "the lawyer "he read the name" first Friday "on the Internet and in newspapers.

Boeing still alone

For example, Boeing is still single track. But EADS could seep again.The European manufacturer has applied for a period of 90 days for the closing of the tender to submit a new proposal. At the Pentagon to decide. The installment is currently scheduled for May 10.

EADS had been ejected from the race in February, while its U.S. partner Northrop Grumman had withdrawn from a competition judged biased.

ALSO READ

"Supply: EADS could return to racing

On Wednesday the European Commission has strongly urged the France "to clarify the budgetary strategy which will enable it to correct its excessive deficit and reduce its debt. The latter has in fact intended to increase "substantially because of the likely deficit, but also as a result of the issuance of public debt to finance public investment."In other words, Brussels is concerned about an economic policy which aims to increase the debt …

Ambitions intact

The Government does not intend to revisit all his ambitions downwards coincidence, Fran?ois Fillon returned Wednesday by the Council of Ministers launched the operational program for future investments – 35 billion that will go into teaching Higher education, research, industrial clusters and SMEs, sustainable development and digital.

The Prime Minister announced the holding of an interdepartmental committee before the end of April, "after which will be signed the first agreements between the State and operators responsible for the granting of funds" (OSEO, National Agency for Research Fund deposits …).

These agreements specify the selection process of projects – they will catch up to France, while creating wealth and jobs – and the arrangements for monitoring investments. They make it possible to launch "within weeks" of the first calls for projects for their selection as 2010.

The first would involve investment in high speed, "a subject on which we want to go fast," said a government source.

Moreover, the list of international juries who must select the campus of excellence is almost ready and their choices, investment monitoring, should be done quickly.In the field of nuclear research, the government also wants early investments occur this year.

Other actions, which do not require the launch of calls for projects, will lead "to finance faster," says Matignon. This applies for example to strengthen the core of OSEO to 1.5 billion euros, the granting of "green loans" subsidized industrial enterprises and aid for thermal renovation of housing for households with low incomes.

The Commissioner General for investment, Rene Ricol, has his eye on a single euro spent … What reassure Brussels?

An agreement on part-time senior recently signed by the unions CGT, CFDT, CFTC and FOR with the management of France Telecom (Sud-PTT and CFE-CGC did not sign). This agreement covers employees who worked at least fifteen years with the company and due to retire within three years.

This device based on volunteerism should enable people to work part-time for three years before retirement for 80% of gross salary. With a reduction of greater wages, the employee can retire earlier, up to eighteen months if he agrees to be paid at 65% (not working so that eighteen months before the retirement).

"It's an event, a brick building that is being rebuilt, a dynamic" to move towards a new "social contract", said Director of Human Resources Group, Olivier Barberot at signature.The unions amounted to 14,000 the number of employees who could join the scheme.

"The group undertakes to compensate for 50% the time freed by employees in GST, which, on the basis of 6,000 beneficiaries of TPS, 1500 represents the minimum hiring full time Commission under the scheme between June 2010 and June 2013, "said the text agreed.

ALSO READ:

"France Telecom: the number 2 ready to take the lead in 2011