International News

The information, published Sunday in the Official Journal, surged as health minister, Roselyne Bachelot. The prices of three brands of cigarettes will fall by 20 cents from Monday. This Rothmans, Lucky Strike and packets of Drum rolling tobacco. The government has no way to prohibit it.

Reacting on RTL, the health minister, Roselyne Bachelot, said Sunday it would propose an increase in tobacco taxes to counter the move by the industry when considering the budget bill. The minister, who denounced a "blow to public health", said she was "absolutely shocked".

Recalling that tobacco was responsible for 60,000 deaths a year, more than half due to cancer of the airways, Roselyne Bachelot said she heard "get cigarettes at a price deterrent.""Do not our mobilization efforts on public health is undermined by the initiative of industry," commented the minister.

"A health scandal"

The public health associations have criticized the approach on their side of tobacco. According to Bertrand Dautzenberg, pulmonologist, president of the French Office for the Prevention of smoking, the decline in the price of tobacco is "a marketing offensive aimed at attracting new smokers, particularly youth and women" instant payday loan.

"Variations on the price of tobacco, which are the only effective lever for reducing consumption, are now in the hands of industrialists," he laments."This is a health scandal since this will automatically translate into increased consumption," adds Yves Martinet, president of the National Committee against Smoking (NCTC), which campaigns for "a new tax policy."

There are currently 29% of daily smokers and occasional 5% among French people aged 18-75 years. According to the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT), the daily smoking for 28% of girls and 30% of boys and 17 years.

"And all indicators are now red," according to Professor Albert Hirsch, vice president of the National League against Cancer.The latest results from the annual survey conducted by the association without tobacco Paris, in partnership with the rector of Paris and the Fund's primary health insurance, and have recently shown a tendency to relapse to smoking among adolescents Paris, while the latter had given up smoking massively in the wake of the cancer plan.

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The world leader in chemistry, German BASF, is expected to sign Tuesday the acquisition of fellow Cognis according to the Financial Times Deutschland. Owned by Permira and Goldman Sachs, Cognis manufactures additives for cosmetics and detergents.

According to sources close to the case interviewed by the newspaper, the transaction amounted to 3.2 billion euros. In 2009, sales of Cognis representing 2.6 billion euros and EBITDA was $ 364 million. On its website, the company states employ approximately 5,600 people and be present in thirty countries.

Originally, Cognis was a subsidiary of Henkel, resold in 2004 to 2.5 billion euros. In 2006, the efforts of its new owners to sell it failed. In recent years, the company split from two of its five subsidiaries.BASF has already bought in 2009 the Swiss Ciba for 3.8 billion euros to strengthen in the mill.

The Chinese central bank announced this weekend a further increase in reserve requirements of major banks by 0.5%. This level will be 14% for small financial institutions and 17% for large banks. This is the third time that the People's Bank of China raised the reserve this year. The move is seen as a prelude to higher interest rates, much anticipated in 2010, but it is also a way to delay interest rate hikes this by tightening the screws on the credits via the proportion of reserves. This measure will be effective on May 10

Beijing seeks to put a brake, while concerns about overheating and bubbles in real estate including resurfacing.

Most analysts remain confident about the ability of the Chinese government to curb the overheating, but some are sounding the alarm.In an interview with Bloomberg, economist Marc Faber announcement and a possible implosion of the Chinese economy by a year.

France Telecom said Thursday it had made in the first quarter 2010 revenues down 2% to 10.96 billion euros, in line with market expectations.Profits from his business – not amortissment, charges and taxes (EBITDA) – stand down 4.8% to 3.76 billion euros.

The amount reported sales, which fall into falling 2.7% on a comparable basis, excluding the activities in the United Kingdom, merged with T-Mobile, the French operator said in a statement.

"The group has again demonstrated its ability to maintain its performance in terms of turnover and profitability in an economic and regulatory environment remains difficult," said the CEO of France Telecom, St?phane Richard, quoted in statement.

The operator maintains its 2010 goal of cash generation of around 8 billion euros, "before possible acquisition of new frequencies and without taking into account the impact related to the business tax in France before 2003" .

In its home market, France Telecom has recorded a turnover of 5.77 billion, a decrease of 2.4% (-2.1% on a comparable basis). Spain is even worse, with sales decline of 3.3% (-2.8% on a comparable basis).

In contrast, "Africa and the Middle East are growing more than 7% (on a comparable basis) due to" the rise of our business especially in C?te d'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal and Uganda, " said St?phane Richard.

On Tuesday, France Telecom was willing to pay 300 million dollars, or about EUR 224 million, allowance to Orascom Telcom under its agreement with the group in Cairo to settle their dispute over Mobinil.

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In an email sent Wednesday to news agencies that Credit Agricole has made the announcement. The financial institution said its commitments related to the Greek state reached 850 million euros, 600 million for its Greek subsidiary Emporiki. No further comment was made.

The news comes as the crisis Greek climbed a step, revived by the relegation of the country score in the category of speculative investments by the rating agency Standard & Poor's. Many analysts believe that Credit Agricole is one of the banks most exposed to the current crisis in Greece.

More generally, according to the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the French banks in Europe are most concerned with exposure estimated at 75.12 billion dollars (57 billion euros), followed by German banks with exposure estimated at 45 billion dollars (34 billion euros).

French banks are the only institutions to have bought Greek Emporiki to Credit Agricole and Societe Generale for Geniki. The latter has not yet discussed the amount of its commitment.For its part, the general manager of BNP Paribas, Baudouin Prot, said Wednesday that his institution's exposure to Greek banks was "absolutely negligible" fast cash loans.

The sector battered stock market

The markets are in any case a very dim view of the involvement of French banks in a country attacked by the rating agencies. Investors fear that such consequences could lead to default or restructure the debt of Greece.

Results: The bank is breaking titles in stock. The action of the Credit Agricole fell 3.41% Wednesday to the Paris Stock Exchange, after declining more than 7.6% during the session. It lost 9.57% over the five days and 10.60% since the beginning of the year.

Societe Generale has limited the damage on Wednesday with a decline of 0.33% in closing. But the fall is much heavier since January 1 of that Credit Agricole, with a decline of 16.42%.

For its part, BNP Paribas dropped 3.48% on Wednesday at the close of Paris, and 8.80% since the beginning of the year.

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After two sessions of sharp decline, the Asian stock markets resumed colors Tuesday. In Japan, the Nikkei 225, which had fallen below 11,000 points, it brings back, gaining 0.62%, to 10,976 points.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng up 0.8% at 21,576 points. The S & P / ASX Sydney is 0.33%, to 4931 points. And the Bombay SE Indian wins 0.34%, to 17,459 points.

Bank stocks and airlines have regained some lost ground in recent days, says one local broker, because the complaint against Goldman Sachs for some, and the ash cloud for other

The day before, Wall Street has ended without direction, while European stock markets closed in decline consequent.

The charges against Goldman Sachs continues to be central to the concerns of investors worldwide Fast Cash Without a hassle.The investment banking side has explained to Congress. Sec could go for other banks. And AIG could also file a complaint against Goldman Sachs.

Toyota still reminders

Toyota (-1.89% to 3.625 yen) announced Tuesday the recall of 34,000 worldwide 4×4 vehicles that could run off the road if driven too fast around corners, a new concern for the automotive giant Japanese also regard the Lexus, its luxury brand ultra-lucrative.

This comes as yet another reminder Toyota has agreed to pay a record fine of nearly $ 16.4 million in the United States, where he is accused of being slow to call on other cases of defects.

LE FIGARO. – Your estate at the head of Generali was held a week ago by Mediobanca, the main shareholder. The agreement was then found that satisfy you?

Antoine Bernheim. – No. Of course I understand that we did not wish to renew for three years president of 85 years. But in this case, it is obvious that age is an excuse. I do not accept the way things have been made against me and against Generali. Me, I was offered an "honorary president", but not at the board of directors! As for the company, its management has been decided from the outside, in Mediobanca. And he provides a board where no one outside the two managing directors (CEOs, Ed) will not know anything for insurance. They even rejected Claude Tendil, president of Generali France, which is one of the best insurers in the world.Generali deserves better than that. We do not yet know how the powers will be defined between the two managing directors and the president. As for Mr. Geronzi, who must take the presidency, I wonder … This is not an insurer and he always said he did not want this job.

Will you accept this patronage?

Honestly, I do not know yet. Thanks to Mediobanca, I'm not even on the list of directors to be presented at the meeting April 24. Given what I represent in the history of Generali, I think it's an insult. Ultimately, I could accept such a position, if I was director. And then, when we, like me, been kicked out of a masterful kick, one is rather tempted to retaliate. I am.I would add that on April 24, the small shareholders in Generali will, too, have a say.

Vincent Bollore, who is close to you has participated in the council and Mediobanca will become vice chairman of Generali. This does not "compensate" Does not your departure?

Vincent Bollore said he did everything he could within the nominations committee of Mediobanca. I think, though, in reality, I think that he is not against the idea of a withdrawal to my age. He advises me for months already to accept a honorary president for life and the benefits attached to them.Do I need? After all, my phone rings again …

As for the future role within the board of Generali, Vincent Bollore – who, as intelligent and dynamic as it is, is not an insurer – I do not know what he can be when we clearly supports a takeover of Generali by Mediobanca.

What do you mean?

I think if you put me in the door today Generali, because I defend an orthodox management, exclusively serving the interests of the company and its shareholders, not special interests. I also fought for what is Generali of Italy, a treasure, one of his very few companies to be known worldwide. We're number two in France, Germany, Central Europe, in China too (private sector).But for the merchant bank Mediobanca, which is no longer the hub of the Italian economy it was the time of Enrico Cuccia, the issue has always been to return to power at Generali easy pay day loans. What has never been neither in the interests of the company and its customers or the interests of Italy.

The defense of Generali, it was also against the appetites of other insurers. Have you, during your presidency, proposed a marriage with AXA?

My duty has always been to defend, with all my strength, the "Italian character" of Generali. So yes, Axa has always wanted a reconciliation, but I've always been against. And I have often said Claude Bebear.If it was thought at one time or another, the fact that French is the head of Generali was a godsend, he finally had to give in to reason.

Compare yourself today the circumstances of your departure to the 1999?

When I became the CEO of Generali in 1995, it achieved very little of its profit in connection with its object. She was content to sell property to make profits! In four years, I had doubled the turnover consolidated global market capitalization tripled. But Mediobanca from me in 1999. As I said at the time, and this remains true, the recognition is a disease of the dog not transmissible to man!

And then in 2002, Mediobanca, very concerned about the financial situation of Generali, which was lost, asked me to return. What not to the liking of everyone.Antonio Fazio, Governor of the Bank of Italy, has done everything for me put a spoke in the wheels. But he failed. Others were convinced that I would not set goals that I had with the two managing directors: we had developed a considerable business plan, for a term of three years for the management, instead of just one year as was. And as I have done my job, they could not get rid of me … until now.

This special relationship between Generali and Mediobanca did she embarrassed in your plans for the insurer?

Yes, because Mediobanca would not be diluted stake in Generali. They have never wanted me to realize any capital increase. Mediobanca may not, from his point of view, giving room for maneuver to Generali, and I worry for its future.Because if the company has managed to partially rebuild its capital after the terrible financial crisis we went through these past two years, it will not be sufficient to meet future regulatory requirements under Solvency 2 Directive nor more needs to be developed by means not only organic but also by major acquisitions.

At one point, he will make a capital increase. And better sooner than later because the liquidity has been abundant in recent months, will not always what you …

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End of story. For several weeks, negotiations between the seven countries A400M customers and executives of EADS, parent company of Airbus, have punctuated the news. At yet another meeting, in Berlin, a "tentative agreement" was reached, provided the giant European aerospace in a statement.

Customers (Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey) will pay 3.5 billion euros extra. What survival program, which accumulates nearly four years late and reaped 5.2 billion euros of additional costs.

Specifically, they shall have two billion more on the initial price of the contract and provide $ 1.5 billion in exchange for a share of future exports, according to EADS.The original contract must be amended in the "coming weeks".

In addition, it was agreed to accelerate payment of PDP between 2010 and 2014, but no timetable has yet been arrested.

The time for congratulations

EADS considers that this agreement provides a basis "healthy" for a successful evolution of the A400 program M.

The French Minister of Defense Herv? Morin was commended for his share "of the finalization of the negotiations. "This agreement completes the implementation of decisions taken by ministers at the meeting organized at the initiative of France in Le Castellet July 24, 2009, during which the nations have decided to continue this program emblematic of Europe defense, "he said.

In January, EADS said it planned to simply abandon the program, saying while threatening the sustainability of the group.

The Minister then assured that France would "do anything to save" the project. A few days before, the multipurpose aircraft designed to replace the Transall C-160, for example, 45.1 meters long and 14.7 meters high, can Tranporter troops and equipment, had made its third flight.

Profit warning

This agreement is obviously good news. But EADS will pay the piper in recent months. The group was informed on Friday that it will record an operating profit (EBIT) and net earnings were negative in 2009.In case the provision of 1.8 billion euros for the additional costs of A400 million, he announced today in a statement.

"The final figures will be disclosed during the announcement of full results of fiscal 2009 EADS March 9, 2010.

CM-CIC, which was released yesterday, Thursday, a "preview" (a score prediction results), banking on a net income of 60 million euros, while the Bloomberg consensus provided 21 million euros. But these figures do not include the provision because it was not known.

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After a meeting on Tuesday closed at equilibrium, the rings on Wednesday renewed optimism substantial. At closing, the Cac 40 displayed up 0.63% to 3635.61 points. The revival was strongest in mid-session at 1.38%. But inidice flagship Paris has calmed a few minutes from the end of the session.

The atmosphere is the same in Europe, including the London Stock Exchange gaining 0.39% to 5131.99 points, the Frankfurt amount of 0.69% to 5536.37 points.

The prospect of a European plan to help Greece gives investors reason to smile again. Certainly at this stage, "there is no agreement," said a French source on the eve of the Brussels European Council must take a position on the budgetary situation of Athens.

But it is More than a single nation euro zone to avoid giving the green light for the backup plan.Germany, but could make his signature Thursday.

Long live economic news

On the macroeconomic front, industrial production in France fell by 0.1% in January compared to December, while in November it had gained 0.6%, according to figures published by INSEE. For Fr?d?rique Cerisier, economist at BNP Paribas, "the sharp drop in production of transport equipment (-4.7%) reflects not only the decline in automobile production (-2.1%) but also the aviation branch , naval and railway (-7.9%).After the strong rebound in the third quarter, this pause in the recovery of the activity does not mean that recovery is terminated, but it will be gradual and probably struck, she said.

Furthermore, the current account deficit narrowed in France in 2009 to 40.6 billion euros after 44 billion in 2008, thanks to lower energy costs, said Wednesday the Bank of France (BdF) .

Finally, the United States, the trade figures for December are expected on Wednesday afternoon, and the weekly inventory of crude oil and after-hours trade, the figures of budget execution in January. Governor Daniel Tarullo be heard before the Senate Banking Committee on systemic risks.After Hours, president of the Philadelphia Fed will discuss "Lessons from the global financial crisis."

Bad publications are ignored

The publications were many on Tuesday, and just generally reassuring. But the market is not so far achieved.

Arcelor-Mittal (-5.28% to 27.1 euros) recorded a net profit of 118 million dollars for 2009 and 1.07 billion for the fourth quarter guaranteed payday loan . The metallurgist is the red lantern index in Paris.

PSA Peugeot Citroen (-1.97% to 21.87 euros, 2nd largest drop) announced Wednesday a net loss of 1.161 billion euros in 2009 against a net loss of 363 million a year ago, for a turnover 'sales down 10.9% to 48.417 billion euros.Natixis welcomes performance Faurecia and Gefco, but is very Decca automobile.

Sanofi Aventis (1.03% to 53.2 euros) recorded an adjusted net income of 7.8 billion euros in 2009 up 11%.

According to Le Monde, Renault (+0.27% to 33.4 euros) to consider building a plant near Algiers, which produce 50,000 vehicles annually for the local market.

Nexans (-0.86% to 55.32 euros) worldwide leader in the cable industry, has seen its annual profits collapse at 8 million euros, mainly due to restructuring and divestitures of businesses by group, and remains cautious for 2010.

EDF Energies Nouvelles (+4.82% at 35.85 euros) announced Tuesday a net annual increase of 39% and EBITDA up 47%.Gilbert Dupont went to purchase.

Apart from publications, the bank stand on the CAC 40, including Cr?dit Agricole, headlining, up 4.66%, to 10.85 euros. Axa rises of 4.13% and Societe Generale is 4.41%.

CAC Hors, Havas (6.71% to 3.08 euros, head of the SBF 120) on Tuesday posted a turnover decrease of 4.4% on an organic basis in Q4 2009, to 1441 million 'euros. Unrealized net budgets amounted to 1,270 million euros in 2009. The group has been identified by Goldman Sachs and Nomura.

Medica (+7.92% at 14.03 euros) announces that its IPO was a "success".The French and international institutional, meanwhile, have subscribed for about three times the size of the offer.

Theolia (6.25% to 3.23 euro) has published a turnover increased almost five in 2009 due to the resumption of sales of wind farms by the group.

Ubisoft (-1.72% to 9.66 euros) said Tuesday night "expects to return to profitable growth and a cash from operating activities positive" for the year 2010-11.

Vinci (+1.17% at 38.43 euros) on Tuesday announced acquistion of 89 contracts for parking company Interpark the United States through its U.S. subsidiary LAZ Parking.

Vilmorin (+1.29% at 79.86 euros) issued a turnover up 2.7% in the first half of 2009-2010 and has announced a joint venture in wheat seed in Argentina.

In the wake of their European counterparts, U.S. exchanges have closed the week on a steep decline: the Dow Jones lost 0.96% and the Nasdaq, 1.22%. However, publication of results in the fourth quarter of giant Intel on Thursday night after-hours trading was better than expected. But the JP Morgan Chase established the doubt. The day before the U.S. markets have closed up slightly, despite the disappointing statistics across the Atlantic. The sectors of health and technology have supported the trend.

Earlier Friday morning, Asian stock markets closed broadly in the green. Tokyo The Nikkei ended the session up 0.68% at 10,982.10 points. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong, however, ended down 0.3% to 21,654.16 points as investors still worried about a possible tightening of Chinese monetary policy.

The President's speech yesterday, Obama did not surprise the markets.As announced by the spokesperson of the White House, a proposed tax of fifty largest banks will be presented to Congress in the coming weeks. According to the Financial Times, the U.S. Treasury would press other countries to also adopt a tax on banks.

New wave of statistical significance

The consumer prices in the United States rose by 0.1% in December, bringing inflation over the whole of 2009 to 2.7%, according to figures released Friday by the Labor Department. In the short term, the inflation risk sembre low.

Industrial production in the United States rose in December by 0.6%, as expected by analysts, according to official figures published Friday, but this increase was primarily allowed by having an unusually cold boosted the energy sector.

The technology and banking suffer

Intel sells 3.17% to 20.80 dollars, while the U.S. group confirmed on Thursday evening the resumption of its activities, with net income nearly tenfold in the fourth quarter of 2009, which has reduced to 17% of the decline annual net profit to 4.369 billion dollars. This exceeds the expectations formulated earlier by analysts. "The market has seen a nice rise, everybody expected a good showing from Intel. To some extent it is a classic case of sales at the time of the announcement, "said Owen Fitzpatrick of Deutsche Bank. Even setback for Microsoft (-0.32% to 30.86 dollars), IBM (-0.38% to 131.81 dollars) and Cisco (-2.20% to 24.40 dollars).

Boosted by a return to growth in the fourth quarter, PC sales grew by 5.2% in 2009, according to a study by analyst firm Gartner published yesterday.Acer dethroned Dell (-2.04% to 14.40 U.S. dollars) in second place worldwide.

Even surprise to JP Morgan Chase, which lost 2.26% to 43.68 dollars. The U.S. bank has yet announced having doubled its net profit in 2009 to 11.7 billion dollars. Per share, net income reached 74 cents per share in the fourth quarter, against 62 held by analysts. In the fourth quarter alone, the bank has increased by more than four net profit to 3.3 billion dollars. The bank's CEO, Jamie Dimon, welcomed the news that the bank in late 2009 enjoyed a "very strong capital ratios Tier 1 of 11.1%. But the cost of risk (failure to pay on credit) remains "high". The bank especially in its accounts last quarter to 7.3 billion dollars in reserves to cover these risks.Morgan Stanley lost 2.88% to 30.30 dollars, Goldman Sachs 1.95% to 165.25 dollars, and Bank of America 3.33% to 16.26 dollars.

Citigroup (-2.85% to 3.41 dollars) would be decided by the Financial Times, to cap the bonus at $ 100,000.

Market research firm NPD has revealed sales of video game consoles in the United States for year-end 2009 total, the three major manufacturers have passed 40 million consoles in 2009, including 20 million for the Wii Nintendo, 10 million for the Xbox 360 and 10 million for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) by Sony, thanks to an aggressive policy of lower prices.

In addition, Verizon Communications (-2.05% to 30.58 dollars) will host a conference on its wireless subsidiary, which is partly owned by Vodafone (-1.82% to 22.09 dollars).

Oil retreats, dollar strengthens

Side materials, oil slipped below the 79 dollars a barrel and connects its fifth session lower after the report of the International Atomic Energy: global consumption of oil should rebound by 1.7% in 2010 fully supported by demand from emerging countries and Asia, after falling 1.5% in 2009.

The dollar is strengthening against the euro, which is penalized by the situation in Greece after the publication of inflation. One euro is worth 1.4385 dollars.