International News

In the wake of the Asian stock markets, down sharply this morning despite a slight improvement at the end, the financial center of Paris has long been reluctant to choose how to behave on Tuesday … In response to fears about economic recovery and the financial situation of countries The Paris index has been a roller coaster since the opening, from an initial technical rebound (2%), a new panic attacks (-3.08%) in the morning and a recovery in midday (0.82% to 3150.70 points). The Paris index is even pressed for less than a minute to below 3000 points, a threshold that had not crossed since July 13, 2009. Finally, the Cac 40 shows a gain of 1.63% to 3176.19 points, ending at eleven consecutive sessions of declines.

Volumes were again extremely high (nearly 7 billion euros), all displaying European stock exchanges by mid-day trading levels higher than their usual daily average.

The recovery technique recorded by Paris is divided into Europe: London won 1.89%, 2.80% Brussels, Amsterdam, 1.30%, Milan (0.52%) 0.60% and Brussels. Conversely, the Dax in Frankfurt (-0.10%) and Madrid (-0.04%) remained in the red

Pic of volatility

This new session, which was a bit of all the dangers Monday after a black market, was held in extreme nervousness. With a drop of 18% of the index in Paris in eleven sessions, the Cac 40 was defeated Monday again his record consecutive bearish sessions.In addition, the volatility (the highest for two and a half years as the VIX (16.7%), shows that investors are not convinced by measures taken in Europe and the United States for fiscal consolidation and boost growth.

Even the 2 billion euros pledged by the European Central Bank (ECB) on Monday to buy back bonds in Italy and Spain, have yielded only very temporarily a little breath on the markets. According to a consensus of managers interviewed by Reuters, the institution should indeed buy at least 100 billion of sovereign debt in Spain and Italy to strengthen the euro area and reduce the pressure on the markets.However, the relaxation on the 10-year rates of the two countries is continuing this morning, those of Spain from below 5%, while those in Italy were approaching that threshold.

Moreover, the lack of effect on the markets of the intervention of U.S. President Barack Obama shows that political speech has no impact on investors, beyond the break-off. This has not prevented the U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, to find that governments and central banks, have "largely on the margin" to address the crisis.European side, the statements are also increasing, Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, on Tuesday called on governments to "do their job" and put in place as soon as possible bailout of Greece, adopted on 21 July.

Policy responses are not sufficient to calm the

Is it possible? Hard to say, as investor psychology seems to look for a disability policy to find new tools to address the current crisis. For two weeks, no action relieves durablementles markets and break the vicious circle in which is immersed the Paris index.From this point of view, no new ones are expected at the meeting on the macroeconomic front.

The eyes are still turned to the United States, where the Monetary Policy Committee of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) will hold a highly anticipated meeting this afternoon to decide on measures against the risk of a further slowdown in growth. The conclusions of this meeting, however, should not be made public until 20:15, Paris time, and will therefore not affect the European markets.

In this dark period, is good news also came on the morning of the Budget Ministry, which reported just before a stock market stabilization French public deficit at the end of June, to 61.3 billion euros.

Moreover, according to figures released this afternoon by INSEE, the price of oil in dollars recovered in July (+2.3%) after declining by 1% in JuneThe price of imported industrial raw materials has, too, bounced: 1.9% in July, against 0.2% a month earlier. Same trend for raw food (+1.0% after -0.8%).

For its part, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also lowered its demand forecasts for 2011. In its monthly report published on Tuesday, the organization expects a demand for crude to 88.14 million barrels per day (bpd), against 88.18 million bpd set before.

The barrel still under pressure

The report is closely watched, the price of oil is very strong pressure for 15 days under the effect of the downward revision of demand forecasts. A decline which continued Tuesday, but less than the opening.In electronic trading in Asia, the "light sweet crude" for dropped below 80 dollars (78.92 dollars in mid-day) while the barrel of Brent crude down $ 100 for the floor, then back to 101.04 dollars.

As for the exchange, finally, the single European currency regained color against the greenback until the Fed meeting tonight, the euro climbed to 1.4234 dollars at 8 o'clock, against 1.4179 late Monday. Note that the face of these uncertainties, gold enjoys full status as a safe haven, record after record signing. The ounce finished on a further rise Tuesday in Hong Kong dollars to 1753.50, after hitting a new record for the session at 1772.09 dollars.

Side analysts, speeches remain cautious, noting that "the large volumes show that we are not in a sluggish market, typical of the holiday, but in a situation of significant liquidations of positions, as and when traders' confidence evaporates, "according to Jonathan Sudaria Capital Spreads.

The side of values ​​to follow:

Financials bounce (BNP Paribas takes 0.06% to 39.33 euros, Societe Generale advance of 3.54% to 26.01 euros and Credit Agricole gleans 1.94% to 6.88 euros). Natixis (+2% to 2.95 euros) goes back more vigorously the slope, as Axa (2.23 to 11.23 euros).Faced with the sharp fall in equity markets, the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) did not consider it unnecessary at this stage to ban short selling in these securities, said Monday a spokesman for the regulator stock.

Alcatel-Lucent (9.22% to 2.42) shows the largest increase in the ACC after losing 31.5% over the past two weeks.

GDF Suez (1.01% to 20.02 euros). the group has reached an agreement with the Chinese sovereign wealth fund CIC. Beijing will take a pole in its exploration and production investments and participate in the French group in Asia Pacific, told Reuters on Monday sources familiar with the matter.

Archos (- 5.50% to 6.87 euros). The specialist tablets unveiled Monday a net profit after market semi-annual 1.7 million euros against a loss a year earlier.The group also confirmed its objective of a gross margin above 20% for the full year.

Euro Disney (12.68% to 5.60 euros) reported, shortly before the opening of the Exchange, an increase of 7% of its quarterly revenue (T3), to 344 million euros and announced an increase in spending per visitor.

European banks may need to raise 80 billion euros, to reassure the markets. A report by JPMorgan Cazenove, led by analyst Kian Abouhossein, estimates that if the level of reserve requirements is strictly adhered to 7%, nearly two banks will raise new money. French banks Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole would need twenty billion euros, against 25 billion for UK institutions and 14 billion euros for German lenders, including Deutsche Bank. The Italian UniCredit, Credit Suisse and Santander are also cited in the report by JPMorgan Cazenove.

This study revealed the results of stress tests published last Friday by the EBA.These tests, built on capital requirements as 5%, entered into a need to refinance 2.5 billion euros for eight of the 90 banks assessed, including any French. But investors believe these tests inadequate, particularly criticizing for not sufficiently taken into account the default risk in Greece. JPMorgan Cazenove said the criticism in his study, indicating that these stress tests have "limited value".

The evolution of banking stocks on European stock markets will be very observed on Monday morning to find Investors Arbitration between the reassuring results of stress tests and numerical study of JPMorgan. In March, ratings agency Standard & Poor's had conducted its own tests of resistance.His conclusion: European banks would need 250 billion euros of additional capital.

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Gloomy atmosphere at the Paris Bourse. On Wednesday, the benchmark index in Paris ended sharply down 0.88% to 3837.98 points. Either in the 3850 points, a significant technical threshold, which has not happened since March 18 last. Even bad mood: the London Stock Exchange was down 0.95% at 5808.89 points while in Frankfurt the Dax loose 0.61% to 7060.23 points.

On Tuesday, the benchmark index beyond the Paris Bourse had managed to achieve a small rebound. But since the Fed has made comments that disturb operators, already worried by the weak U.S. economy. In a televised speech in Atlanta, its chairman Ben Bernanke said that economic growth across the Atlantic remained "desperately slow" and that it required the maintenance of a "monetary policy complacency."He said that "growth should recover somewhat in the second half, but remain generally moderate. Delivered just before the close of U.S. markets, the speech was the turning Wall Street into the red. And this morning, Asian stock markets also reacted negatively.

Furthermore, growth of the emerging world should rise from 7.3% in 2010 "to about 6.3% annually from 2011-2013," considers the Bank's global economic forecast published in Washington.

French record trade deficit

In this gloomy atmosphere, the markets will monitor several indicators, mainly European.

– In France, the trade deficit set a record high in April to 7.14 billion euros, against 5.91 billion in March, seasonally adjusted data, the Customs said Wednesday.Moreover, the deficit of state budget stood at 61.4 billion euros in late April against 56.2 billion a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday by the Budget Ministry.

– In Germany, exports fell 5.5% in April on a month and imports by 2.5% over the same period, according to preliminary data adjusted for seasonal and calendar published Wednesday by the Federal Statistics Office . Other bad news, industrial production in Germany fell 0.6% in April on a month, its first decline since December, after rising 1.2% in March, said Wednesday the Department of Economics.

– Economic growth of countries in the euro area was well brought up to 0.8% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, Eurostat said.In one year, growth was also confirmed at 2.5%.

– U.S. stocks of crude oil dropped ten times more than expected last week in the U.S., but gasoline inventories rose sharply, according to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Energy. Then 20 hours, the Fed will deliver the findings of its Beige Book.

Side currency, the euro lost ground against the dollar Wednesday after being around $ 1.47 the day before. To 17 hours in Paris, the single European currency traded at 1.4575 dollars against 1.4688 dollars late Tuesday. Oil prices were, themselves, without direction in electronic trading in Asia in anticipation of an OPEC meeting in Vienna in the day that might decide to increase production.A barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery took 7 cents 99.16 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery same retreated 48 cents to 116.30 dollars.

Banks still abused

No value of the CAC 40 is in the green at closing. On the SBF 120, Groupe Eurotunnel rises of 0.88%. The operator of the Channel Tunnel has won the tender launched by the great seaport of Bordeaux to determine the particular conditions of access to the network of railways, said on Tuesday a statement from the group.Saft rises of 0.80%, HSBC rose to overweight on the title.

Back on the Cac 40, Alcatel-Lucent shows the largest decrease: -3.26% to 3.65 euros.

Sanofi Aventis, valued for his defensive forward timidly from 0.17% to 52.33 euros.

Banks are generally downward: Natixis (-2.07% to 3.50 euros), Societe Generale (-1.39% to 39.79 euros) and BNP Paribas (-0.82% to 52.21 euros ) undergo further profit taking.

PPR: -1.67% to 115.15 euros

The group announced it is extending its takeover offer for the American Volcom until June 16

Hermes: +0.08% to 187.80 euros, LVMH: -1.11% to 116.30 euros

The group returns to its highest in October 2010 and outperformed the other lasting values ​​of luxury in favor of speculation about a takeover at the end of the saddle by LVMH, which already owns more than 20% of a group supported by sustained growth .

Schneider Electric: -1.34% to 110.70 euros

The authority of U.S. markets, the SEC filed a complaint for insider trading around the offer of French Schneider Electric on the Spanish Telvent. According to a warning issued Tuesday on the website of the SEC, this crime would have allowed the authors to make a profit of about $ 475,000 in total through the sale of option contracts Telvent acquired before the announcement of massive Schneider's offer.

Renault: -2.20% to 36.72 euros

The decision of the Court of Appeal of Versailles on the possible recognition as an occupational accident suicide in February 2007, Raymond D, employee Technocentre Renault in Guyancourt (Yvelines), is expected Thursday.The suicide of Raymond D was the third employee of the Technocentre in the space of four months between late 2006 and early 2007.

Belvedere: stable at 61.48 euros

After the decision of the Court of Appeal of Dijon, on Tuesday to confirm the cancellation of the safeguard procedure, the band announced that it "remains open to an agreement with its main creditors in the run to finish with a conflict that has lasted too long. "

BioAlliance: + 1.78% to 6.30 euros

The group wants to create a commercial structure for selling online in Europe's orphan drugs in oncology while pursuing its strategy of licensing agreements for its specialty products.

NYSE Euronext: -0.54% to 24.06 euros

NYSE and Deutsche Börse have announced a special dividend of 2 euros per share for shareholders of the combined group

GDF Suez: -0.49% to 24.43 euros

Group CEO, Gerard Mestrallet, warned Tuesday against Montreal seduction exerted excessive public opinion renewables, noting in particular the high cost of wind power."These are intermittent energy sources that will require large reserve capacity, which will be based on natural gas because of the ease of use of gas turbines," he told the International Economic Forum of the Americas.

Total: -0.20% to 38.21 euros

The U.S. manufacturer SunPower solar panels, partial target of a takeover of French Total, raised its forecast Tuesday quarterly revenue but warned that its margins could suffer from falling prices.

Next recommendation, after Exane BNP Paris yesterday, Credit Suisse rose to "outperform" on the title Michelin (-0.14% to 63.70 euros).

Please note that Air France-KLM will unveil its traffic in May after-hours trading. Valeo and Sopra hold their general meetings and Gifi publish the results of its second quarter after market close.

While falling the first quantitative estimates on the losses caused by the bacterium E. coli (EHEC) on the French market garden industry, the doubts expressed Friday by Bruno Le Maire, who feared a "very negative impact" on the French production of vegetables, proved correct. So much so that the French Minister of Agriculture will visit Brussels on Monday to ask European authorities to release the compensation for French fruit and vegetables. That's what he said last night during a trip to Washington as part of the preparation of a G20 meeting.

The bill could climb quickly, especially if other European countries adopted the same position. Only in France, in a week, the losses for the chain of cucumber and tomato were almost 5 million.In Spain, they reach for the entire industry around 200 million euros, according to the Spanish Federation of Producers and exporters of fruits and vegetables (FEPEX), 75 million euros for the single chain of cucumber.

Germany will not pay

Ultimately, who pays for that damage? The issue remains unresolved, some arguing that Germany, by criminalizing the original Spanish cucumbers in the spread of the disease, is mainly responsible for the current situation and the financial losses suffered by producers. Since then, the vegetable has been exonerated, no evidence has been presented that is causing the infection. For some, Germany should pay the compensation sought. A scenario has completely rejected on Saturday a Reinhard Schäfers Europe, the German ambassador in France no fax payday advance."I can not imagine it will financially compensate," he said, justifying the information given by a need for transparency. "When we did, we had found something on some cucumbers Spanish. When you have information to one point, you must tell the public, "he added.

"We are victims of an epidemic," he said. That is what concerns us for now. There are mechanisms at European level to deal with it ", confirming the position of Bruno Le Maire.

Expected meeting June 17 in Luxembourg

In addition, the Minister recalled Friday absolute necessity "not to lower our guard for food safety," tackles and the attempts by some European countries to "re-nationalize agricultural policies."Having considered excessive embargo imposed by Russia on European imports of fresh vegetables (594 million euros in 2010), the Minister has however called for a "total safety" at the intra-European and its boundaries, based on traceability and controls. There remains the question of the cost of such tests. A question that Bruno Le Maire has not evaded, but without giving numerical estimates. This position closes, the minister should defend it on June 17. A meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg should indeed be confirmed within 48 hours to study the responses to health crises, but also to improve their prevention.

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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. "

Young people do not aspire to the job security. According to a TNS Sofres poll * for AEF released Thursday, students in second year Master (Bac +5) want to work primarily in the private sector. They are almost two thirds (61%) wish to find future employment in a company, against only a third (30%) in the public service, hospital, or territorial government. A finding that contrasts with previous surveys on the subject, but that did not exclusively on those college students having similar profiles to those of larger schools.

"A bias-size grave, Danielle Deruy analysis, executive director of the agency specialized in teaching AEF. For students, salvation is not the public! Today they remind us of another image: they like the company and hopefully they will now. "Only literary exception, because of their high palatability (39%) for teaching careers. Among these students graduate and very end of the course, only 5% also aspire to work in an NGO.

Salary underestimated

In detail, their choices reflect the concerns of a new generation assets. The company to which they aspire to be primarily responsive to its employees, dynamic, innovative and socially responsible. So many choices that confirms the ranking of companies in which to work published this Friday, which ranked first on the wishes of the American students Microsoft. About their work, they hope exciting and friendly, allowing them to learn a lot.Have the opportunity to emigrate, however, is unimportant to them: two masters students even put this criterion in last position.

Wishes which are not inconsistent with some realism. A quarter of them want to find their first job in the council, even if much work for "a comfortable salary." Their remuneration does not appear as long as paramount to elect their future employer. In connection with a labor market that they find it difficult to integrate, rather they underestimate their wages will be eligible. And a majority said it would accept an annual salary of less than 25,000 euros per year, or 1730 euros per month. "They still lack a lot of confidence in them," said Danielle Deruy.The director of the AEF recalls that the average salary of first job found by the Agency for the Employment of Executive spring to 2170 euros gross per month.

* Survey conducted among 6365 students from 28 March to 22 April /

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Just e-G8 closed, rumors of geeks running since this morning. And if true, it confirms a big strategic move for Facebook. After launching with Warner Bros VOD (video on demand), the giant with 500 million profiles, whose boss Mark Zuckerberg is one of the VIP guests to meet the eight G8 Heads of State on Thursday – would be a fortnight of launching a music service straming, through a partnership with the nugget Spotify, according the U.S. magazine Forbes.

It is rumored that on the Facebook profiles, left, would be inserted an icon whose name is not yet known, but could be "Facebook Music" or "Spotify on Facebook.It is also said that the alliance would take place without any commitment of money: it would therefore Spotify to be known to great speed in the world, and Facebook, to finally be on the market for music online, like Google, Amazon and Apple.

With these revelations Forbes this morning, citing sources familiar with the social network, shakes blogs, feeds and awakes the twits websites. According to the magazine, if a Facebook user – which is located in a country where this is Spotify – click the new tab, the application will install on his computer screen and allow access to Spotify music library directly from their Facebook profile. Be music, free, for a few hours, or unlimited for those who choose the Premium connection to 10 euros per month.It would be possible to share the song and listened to his "Facebook friends" could enjoy together.

Spotify: a million users and a launch in the U.S.

This partnership would be a real boon for Spotify direct competitor to Pandora or Rhapsody in the U.S. or the French Deezer. The European site for streaming music over the Internet, launched in 2006 in Sweden and in seven European countries, in particular going to launch its first services in the United States this summer, said yesterday one of its shareholders, Sean Parker , Contractor's flagship web world, visiting Paris for e-G8.

Mainly known for founding Napster, the music-sharing software who first shook up the classical model of the music industry, Sean Parker Spotify commme sees a way to encourage people to accept new pay to listen music."I would not say that Spotify is intended to compensate Napster. I would rather call it to finish what I started with Napster, "said the contractor in an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the e-G8. Spotify claims a million users to date premium total in England, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Spain, France and the Netherlands, and over ten million subscribers for free.

When e-G8, Neil Rimer, co-founder of Index Ventures investment fund, which invested in several start-ups, said he had "identified a list of companies in Europe are approaching the Cape of billion dollars in sales and who have what it takes to go public. "Among them he cited Spotify.

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In the light of an early meeting smashing, with the Dow Jones up more than 1%, the NYSE closed modestly in the green Friday. The Dow Jone gained 0.43% to 12,638.81 points. The Nasdaq index of technology stocks has taken its share 0.46%, to 2827.56 points.

The mood on Wall Street's opening, driven by the release of employment figures better than expected, has been tarnished by rumors from the euro area. Greece had indeed threatened to leave the eurozone, according to the German magazine Der Spiegel, citing sources close to the German government. A ifnormation quickly rejected by the major European capitals and in Greece itself.

U.S. stocks have opened sharply into the green on Friday, strongly supported by the publication at 14.30 good employment figures for the month of April.The Dow Jones advanced 1.10%, to 12,723.12 points and the Nasdaq by 1.09% to 2845.48 points.

Thursday for the third straight session, Wall Street had ended in retreat, investors are unpleasantly surprised by the rise in weekly jobless claims. The fall in commodity prices had also weighed on Wall Street and on most stock exchanges. Asian markets were down this morning.

Oil, for his part ended in the red, a barrel of light sweet crude for June delivery touching down to 97.18 dollars. In one week, falling 15%. This is the largest decline in weekly percentage terms since the week 19 December 2008 when prices fell by 26.8%.

The commodity index had plunged by 5% Friday, its heaviest correction since the 2008 financial crisis and one of the largest in its history.This violent decline in oil and metals weighs heavily on many sectors like oil and steel or producers.

On the foreign exchange market, the acceleration surprise hiring in the U.S. and the turmoil associated mainly in the euro zone have precipitated the rise of the dollar. After passing during the session under $ 1.45, a first for 10 days, the euro traded at 1.4341 shortly before 22.30, down 1.37%.

Kraft Foods profit down

Values ​​to follow

Kraft Foods 2.91% to 34.36 dollars

No. 2 worldwide agribusiness has announced a profit of 799 million dollars in the first quarter, down from $ 1.8 billion last year. The benefit was then boosted by asset sales. Turnover was up 11% to $ 12.6 billion. Organic growth was 4.5%.For 2011, the Group expects organic growth of 4%, against 5% previously announced, and a total growth between 11 and 13%.

Sara Lee: +0.99% to 19.47 dollars

In the same sector, Sara Lee announced a quarterly profit of $ 153 million, against a loss of 336 million last year due to exceptional items. Turnover was up 6.8% to $ 2.22 billion below the $ 2.23 billion expected. Gross margin was down to 33.2% against 37.6%. The group has raised its selling price by 3% on average and anticipates further increases over the next 6 months.

Visa: 0.58%, to 79.16 dollars

Visa has announced his side a 23% increase in profits in the first quarter to 881 million.Net banking income of 2.2 billion, up 15%, driven by higher payments to international and a positive currency effect of 2%. The main uncertainty for the group focuses on the reform sought by the Fed on the fees charged on payments. The new law could reduce the turnover of the group between 11% and 15% and earnings per share of 20%. In addition, the group announced a new share repurchase program of $ 1 billion.

AIG: 1.36%, to 31.21 dollars

The insurance group has achieved for its first quarter 2011 net income of 269 million dollars against 1.8 billion a year earlier.However, the insurer posted a loss of $ 0.35 per share against earnings per share of $ 2.66 last year following the redemption of shares held by the U.S. Treasury for $ 385 million and the additional cost of 427 million related to the redemption of preference shares.

CF Industries: 5.28% to 136.07 dollars

CF Industries announced for first quarter 2011 net income of $ 282 million after a deficit of 4.4 million last year.

Fluor Corporation: 7.27%, to 70.49 dollars

Fluor Corporation completed the first quarter 2011 net income of $ 140 million against 137 million last year.

Microchip Technology: 1.04%, to 40.96 dollars

Microchip Technology has reported for the fourth quarter of 2010/2011 with a consolidated turnover of 380 million up 37% year on year and net income from continuing operations of $ 131 million, up 72% over the year.

Priceline.com: -1.02% to 528.59 dollars

Priceline.com posted a net profit in the first quarter of $ 137 million, up 57% over one year, earnings per share $ 2.66 $ 2.44 against the dollar and 1.7 expected last year .The turnover amounted to 809 million, an increase of 38.5% over one year.

Public Storage: 0.61%, to 24.80 dollars

Public Storage has announced a net profit in the first quarter of $ 148 million against $ 35 million a year earlier.

Sunoco: 3.44%, to 41.44 dollars

Sunoco recorded a deficit of 101 million dollars in the first quarter against a deficit of 63 million last year. The board of directors also declared a quarterly dividend of $ 0.15 per share.

Sony continued its demining operation. Sunday morning, leaders of the electronics group broke the calm of a week full of holidays in Japan to hold an emergency press conference after hacking data of 78 million customers of the platform game online PlayStation Qriocity and a new music download service. On this occasion, the head of consumer business group, Kazuo Hirai, presented his "sincere apologies" and announced a series of measures to "restore confidence" of players.

The situation is serious. Between April 17 and 19, the network information Sony has suffered a virus attack that allowed hackers to capture data from users of the PlayStation Network (PSN), including their name, date of birth, email address and password.Above all, Sony has "not ruled out the possibility" that the bank details have been stolen. Even if the information was encrypted, some 10 million bank details can be found potentially in nature.

Measures of common sense

Faced with this threat, Sony executives have started to deliver the recommendations make sense. They advise gamers to "look at their records and monitor the history of their purchases by credit cards, and change their username and password on other online services if they were identical to those entered on the network PlayStation. This change of password will be imposed when the PlayStation Network and Qriocity service, suspended since April 20, will return to service in the coming days.Players receive one month's premium subscription service for the PlayStation, as compensation paydayloans.

But Sony has also enabled internally to prevent such mishaps from happening again. The electronics giant has announced "measures to improve the security of its network, with the establishment of a" monitoring software automatically to defend against new attacks, improved data encryption , more sophisticated means of detecting intrusions on the network and adding new firewalls. A "Mr. Computer Security "will also be appointed.

A survey in France

On the investigation front, Sony has relied on the expertise of two companies specializing in computer security, while cooperating with authorities in several countries, including the FBI in the United States which are grouped as many users.Official inquiries have been launched or are about to be committed by Great Britain, France, Australia and Hong Kong. For now, no information was provided on the likely perpetrator of this piracy and their motivations.

According to Kazuo Hirai, it is too early to evaluate the accounting consequences of piracy. The cyber attack occurs however at a delicate time for Sony, faced with the consequences of the terrible earthquake and tsunami of March 11 in Japan that led to the temporary shutdown of some of its plants. It also touches the heart of its development strategy in video games, which relies more on online play with each new generation of consoles, and thus the players' confidence in buying from a distance.

Zhou Mingwang is a young Chinese entrepreneur very reactive. Twenty-four hours after the official announcement of the royal wedding between William and Kate, 16 November, Zhou placed online on its website chinamingwang.cn a copy of the engagement ring, a large blue sapphire set with diamonds, worn at the time by Princess Diana, she received a gift from Prince Charles.

The jewel, consisting of a zircon crystals and 14, is sold for a whopping $ 2.75 to $ 8 per piece, the price varies depending on the quantity purchased. Located in Yiwu city, south of Shanghai, a center of low-cost production, Zhou took care of changing the jewel just enough to avoid infringement litigation payday loans in one hour.

For the first orders from Great Britain, flocked applications everywhere, even Australia. Recently, a French magazine has purchased 35,000 for a commercial transaction.

If the idea has since made a few followers among the competition, the young man, who has already sold more than 100,000 copies, table for this year on a strong rise in earnings thanks to Kate and William. Friday, he will follow the ceremony in his factory with 40 employees.

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