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A year after its introduction, the majority and the government seem divided on VAT at 5.5% in restaurants. To reduce the government deficit, Budget Minister Francois Baroin, this plane would "very, very large niche for tax, estimated at 3 billion euros Bercy. Its minister, Christine Lagarde, has cropped Tuesday morning: the reduced rate of VAT "is legitimate on the merits.

But the revolt against the old promise of Jacques Chirac, applied from 1 July 2009 thanks to the activism of Nicolas Sarkozy, also scolded the Assembly. Without naming the VAT on food, the general rapporteur for the Budget, Gilles Carrez (UMP), has questioned "a number of consumer items that are 5.5% and that should not be at 5.5 %. He advocates instead an intermediate rate to 12%.

Since the introduction of the measure for the restoration, the context is not the same.The government, which has hitherto led a recovery policy, had to change tack in recent months under pressure from the markets. It is now to reduce the deficit. Especially in the planing tax loopholes.

Nevertheless, the statements and Gilles Carrez Baroin were poorly received by restaurants. "It's absolutely outrageous to say that the 5.5% VAT tax is a niche!" Reacts Philippe Villalon, president of the National Federation of the restoration (FNRF). "We buy our products and we sell 5,5% to 5.5%. As is the case for all areas of the mouth.Moreover, if we repeat the policies they want to end VAT at 5.5%, we should not translate that we lower our prices, nor that we hired, as the state would break its part of contract. "

During the implementation of the measure, the restorers had promised to lower prices, to invest and hire. These commitments, which would take over in case of cancellation of VAT at 5.5%, would have been more or less respected. The Court of Auditors estimated last October that the measure would involve only 6,000 new jobs. The profession claims to the contrary today promised 21,700 against 20,000 a year.

All sorts of people need fast cash though are unwilling to compromise on interest rates. Naturally, the lower the interest rate, the better. Low rate payday loans are easy to access thanks to the Internet.

Decisive day for the mobilization against the pension reform. The objective of unions is clear: to gather more demonstrators than previous events, which led to another since the beginning of the year. On 27 May, between 395,000 and one million people (according to the police and unions respectively) took to the streets.

Since then, times have changed. The government has announced plans for pension reform last week. A text that unions have unanimously considered "unfair." Guests this Thursday on RTL, the secretary general of the CFDT, Francois Chérèque, regretted "being faced with a country that is willing to change, but change in the wrong direction." Therefore, he hopes an "exceptional mobilization" for this inter-action day.

"The hope was to surpass the one million demonstrators.I think that this figure will be exceeded is obvious, "said François Chérèque, saying that" perhaps two million people "will demonstrate this Thursday. And this, especially since "more than 200 gatherings" are already planned across France. And calls for strikes in the business (as in Saint-Gobain, Michelin, Total, Airbus, BNP Paribas, L'Oreal, France Telecom, La Poste …) have followed since the beginning of the week.

At the Post, some 19.86% of staff were on strike Thursday morning, said the Directorate in a statement against 12.80% last May 27. For its part, the direction of the station has recorded 39.8% of strikers among the railway workers in mid-morning, against 23.2% during the last day of action interprofessional.

The teachers were 31.9% to strike Thursday in schools and 10.3% in secondary schools (including 18.7% in colleges), according to figures from the Ministry of Education published in mid-morning. The schools were little affected, the degree requires organization. On the day of 23 March, the mobilization in the primary had reached 29.8% of strikers, the ministry said.

Another sector to have mobilized public broadcasting had a strong participation in the strike on Thursday. Several television and radio have been deleted throughout the morning. The directions of France Televisions and Radio France, however, had not reported figures to the mid-day. Finally, the publication of several regional newspapers has been disrupted. To major national newspapers will not seem morrow Fridays.

For the secretary general of the CGT, Bernard Thibault, the one million demonstrators should be passed this afternoon. "If that's not enough, we have the sequence of ideas, this is not the end of a cycle, only the announcement of a bill," he warned in a interview with the newspaper 20 Minutes. "I've seen governments fall as safe as this one, particularly on the subject of pensions, has finally found the union leader.

If Nicolas Sarkozy pledged on Tuesday to be "tuned" during discussions with the unions this summer, and it spoke of "possible developments" of the reform bill late last week, some key points text does not change as raising the legal age to 62 years in 2018. And, whatever the mobilization this Thursday."The mobilization will certainly strong, we expect, we do not fear," warned the Labour Minister, Eric Woerth.

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"SPECIAL CASE – Retirement: The Challenge of Reform

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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"What's good with tires is that you can not postpone the purchase for more than a year," jokes Frank Schuhardt, CFO Delticom, Europe's number one sales tires on the Internet. If this mode of marketing is still marginal – it represents only 4% of the total market for replacement – it benefits both the general upturn in demand and development of online sales.

Delticom, whose site is 123pneu.fr French, achieved a turnover of 311.3 million euros in 2009, up 20% and net income of 20 million euros (+ 72.4% ). For Delticom will not be "the Ryanair of the tire business. We want to offer a good balance between our selling price, security of payment to our suppliers and good results for our shareholders, "said Frank Schuhardt.A challenge as to the quality of service rendered, Delticom depends largely on its partners.

Midas offensive

Indeed, the site is not directed only to amateur mechanics can change their tires themselves, balancing included. Like most of its competitors, relies on partnerships with independent garages: 28 000 in the world, including 2 800 in France. Specifically, at the command, the user can choose the garage where he will deliver and mount the tires, according to criteria of proximity, price. "The independent garages are doing brisk business. They do not have the same bargaining power with the tire that Delticom. We bring them new customers, "explains Frank Schuhardt, who believes that the tires are 20 to 25% cheaper on average on the site among traditional retailers.Delticom also prides itself in offering one of the largest selections of tires, if not the largest, with no fewer than 25 brands and 000 references in the catalog (virtual). Enough to satisfy the most sophisticated applications.

The arguments for consumers, while networks like Midas, Norauto, Green Light or Speedy regularly offer promotions on the tires. Norauto for its part has announced the launch of its new tire Prevensys 2. As in any distribution, brand equity are also honored in the area of the tire. In turn, Midas – who belongs to the same group that Norauto – announced in early March to want to open 100 additional centers in Europe by 2010, including fifty in France.

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It keeps more Ryanair. The low-cost airline, offering unbeatable prices every month and opens new destinations this year will become the first European carrier. With 65 million passengers pass it to Air France and Lufthansa. This success, however, relies on flamboyant resort to illegal aid from airports served.

According to Air France, the aid would have amounted to 660 million euros in Europe in 2008, including 35 million in France. Based on its estimates, the company has decided to refer the case to the European Commission, confirming the details of Figaro. The complaint should be filed against Ryanair in the coming weeks, includes several charges: "lack of prior notification," "breach of equality and distortion of competition ',' illegal state aid.

Air France has conducted a proper investigation before doing so.This included all decrypted reports of regional chambers of accounts (CRC) on the subject. Using data sometimes old, crossed with his information on the field, experts have reconstructed the puzzle of allegedly illegal subsidies received by Ryanair. It shows that on average, chambers of commerce and industry, who manage airports, support the activities of Ryanair in France up 9 to 32 euros per enplaned.

A cultural crusade

From the bottom of the range found in France (using a 11 euros per passenger) and by a simple rule of three with the European operations of Ryanair (60 million passengers in 2008), Air France said that its competitor has received this year 660 million euros of aid to Europe. In support of its investigation, the French company relied on its partners KLM and Alitalia.She has found that the aid granted to Ryanair at the airport of Ostend and Alghero were above its low estimate of 11 euros.

"It's a bit weak reasoning, recognizes a part of Air France. There is no organization in Europe that will do the job of regional chambers of accounts. But the 11 euros of aid per passenger is carried in Europe by the airport we could see. We therefore believe that Ryanair affects 660 million euros in Europe. "

Pushing his argument further, Air France calculates that Ryanair, which posted a net profit of 390 million for its fiscal year 2007-2008 and a loss of 169 million in 2008-2009, has been virtually lost 270 million in 2008 and 829 million last year.

The aid takes several forms.They can be direct, as aid to start extending in contradiction with EU legislation. It also aids "indirect" form of rebate granted on ground handling and airport charges.

The method Ryanair is known: for aid in exchange for an airport serving unprofitable, the company highlights the financial windfall of Anglo-Saxon tourists it carries. In case of refusal, or if the aid is criticized, it selects a nearby airport.

This crusade Air France is not the new episode of a commercial battle, since he rarely Ryanair frontally competition. It is more cultural. "The prices charged by Ryanair give a false perception of the value of our service to passengers, said a part of Air France.The Irish company is considered the musketeer who is offering unbeatable prices respond to national companies and terminate abnormally high rates. In fact, Ryanair flies with the European taxpayers' money. "

Ryanair responds to accusations

Contacted by Le Figaro, Ryanair denies receiving any state aid on the airports where it operates. According to the spokesman of the company, "Air France is who receives illegal subsidies in the form of reductions in airport taxes on its domestic routes in France. "We do not pay attention to false claims of companies such as Air France who perform high prices and fuel surcharges, said the spokesman of the company.They complain because they can not make us competitive. "Ryanair has been traveling 6 million people in the departure or arrival of the French regions and said" support 6 000 jobs in France. In addition, Ryanair announced that "the economic model of Air France is in danger because the company can match its prices. This explains the false accusations. "

The U.S. computer group Hewlett-Packard announced Friday that it was revising downward its first quarter results because of the legal costs of its subsidiary Electronic Data Systems (EDS).

The judicial authorities have in fact ordered DHS to pay 300 million euros – in all – group British Sky Broadcasting and British Sky suscribers Services (BSkyB), which had continued since 2000 to a dispute concerning a development project to system update management (CRM customer relationship) second by the first …went wrong.

After delays and budget overruns (48 million pounds sterling at the base), BSkyB had then resolved to complete the project alone.

On 1 March, in addition to a sentence of 230 million euros imposed in January, HP has been added to interim payment of 77 million euros.

96 to 93 cents per share

Thus, net income amounted to 2.25 billion dollars instead of 2.32 billion announced in February. The world of computers was then revised upwards its estimates of revenues and earnings for fiscal 2010 lagged cash advance .Net earnings per share is reduced to 93 cents, against 96 cents previously.

Last November, Hewlett-Packard unveiled a decline in net income of 8% annually to 7.7 billion, although the last quarter it was up 14% yoy to 2.4 billion dollars. At this time, Dell has introduced quarterly profit falls by 54% and a revenue and earnings per share below expectations.

In May 2008, HP had offered the number two global services company EDS for $ 13.9 billion.

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The time of easy financing of the debt it is soon gone to the United States and the United Kingdom? Large investment funds such as Pimco and BlackRock, fear that record levels of debt can cause a rise in interest rate markets. For states, this means a debt more expensive to finance. For investment funds, this translates into a loss of value of their bond portfolio. These have accordingly reduced their exposure to U.S. debt and the UK, according to them particularly vulnerable.

The California Pimco, the largest bond investor in the world which manages 199.5 billion dollars on this market, has reduced its shares of American and British debts to a level not seen since the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, reports agency Bloomberg.The European BlackRock has in turn reduced its exposure to these securities at its lowest level in two years, the Financial Times.

Investment funds fear two things: that the interest rate, the lower back quickly and that the market can absorb the debt securities issued as required by the states … fueling the rise in yields . A concern that is primarily about the United States and the United Kingdom.

Decline in value of portfolio

"The question posed to the fund now is: when and how fast interest rates will they go?" Analysis Bruno Cavalier, chief economist at Oddo. A rise in interest rates next, helped by economic recovery, would mechanically increase the yields of bonds issued in the coming months.As a result, the securities purchased in the past by the fund with a lower yield, would see their market prices fall. This would melt the value of fund portfolios.

In this perspective, bond yields have rebounded. "Today, the yield on the U.S. ten years is around 3.8% against 3.2% last month and a half … and cons 2% a year ago," notes Bruno Cavalier. Same trend for UK Treasury bills. A consensus of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, the ten-year yields should rise by 4.01% today to 4.31% by end 2010.

Still, the natural demand for sovereign debt should continue, slowing the rise in rates. The new regulations are put in place will indeed require banks to offset the risk by increasing their liquidity cushion.They then turn to bonds. Therefore, "even if emissions of sovereign debt increased sharply, demand should rise dramatically," said Laurence Boone, chief economist at Barclays, before agreeing, referring to ads Pimco: "We are never at 'immune from turmoil in a market if investors decide to all move together … "

The two bad U.S. indicators have failed to curb the enthusiasm of investors on the Paris Bourse. The CAC 40 closed up about 0.32% to 3910.75 points, above the threshold of the fateful 3900 points. When the volume of trade, they remain very low at 2.02 billion euros.

After a setback, following the publication of figures for new home sales in the United States and the index of consumer confidence, the market has finally resumed.

Defensive stocks in the spotlight

The largest increase in the CAC 40 is up to STMicroelectronics (1.80% to 6.34 euro).The group is supported by the resumption of investment in semiconductors.

Elsewhere in the charts are essentially defensive stocks such as PPR (+1.64% at 83.09 euros) or L'Oreal (+1.40% at 77.57 euros).

Great shape early in the session, as the Sanofi-Aventis does nibbles as 0.45% at closing. The pharmaceutical company would consider acquiring a stake in the Danish biotech company Zealand Pharma.

Veolia is maitient up (+1.06% to 22.79 euros). According to information from the Figaro, the group would link with the Italian railway company Trenitalia to launch TGV from France in 2012 to compete with the station.

EDF (+0.53% at 40.86 euros) has shown up throughout the meeting. The electricity supplier could open the French market for electricity in Russia's Gazprom by Voices."Gazprom will supply gas and electricity recovery in Europe," according to an anonymous source.

CAC Hors, Maurel & Prom Signs finest performance of the SBF 120. The title gained 4.15% to 12.55 euros after the announcement of successful tests on the exploration well OMGW-1 (Gwedidi-1), located in Gabon, on the exploration permit Omoueyi.

As for cuts, Suez Environment fall from 1.45% to 15.96 euros. On Tuesday, the group announced a contract for 34 million euros for the construction of a facility responsible for treating wastewater from PetroChina's refinery, located in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, China.

Thomson continued his yoyo Wednesday. After more than 20% earlier this week, the title loses 2.77% to 0.95 euro.

The Paris Bourse started the week higher, recovering some lost ground over the last two sessions last week (-1.16% to close Thursday and Friday -0.95%). Around 13 hours, the CAC 40 was up 0.95% at 3830.61 points, including increased growth of the beautiful side of U.S. markets. In an exchange volume down (barely 875 million euros at mid-session), the famous rally Year-end "appears to be a good reason for investors to" play "on the rise.

No statistics are expected today, which should contribute to the sluggish trade.On the rest of the week (end of quotes provided 13 hours Thursday and closing of the Exchange Friday), the third estimate of U.S. GDP for the third quarter and the sales figures in the real estate professional in the U.S. will be watched.

Thomson negotiates

This is Thomson, which holds the top of the display values of the SBF 120, displaying a great increase of 7.81% to 0.94 euro. The restructuring of debt of Thomson, which must be approved by two thirds of its creditors, has already been accepted on Monday by two of the three committees of creditors who must decide, said the French group said in a statement.

Other important information on Monday and welcomed by the market: a joint venture of Safran (+3.56%) and General Electric was selected in the manufacture of aircraft engines by China to equip future aircraft have to compete A320.

In the ACC, Total wins 1.93%, to 43.4 euros after winning a license contract in Algeria for gas fields of Ahnet.

According Wansquare, Jacques Lenormand, deputy CEO, responsible for driving strategic financial and Credit Agricole (just 1%), going from the facility in a few weeks.

The group involved in banking, in an interview with the daily Le Soir, Pierre Mariani, the CEO of Dexia (3.18%), higher up the leading index in Paris) says it plans to show a fourth quarter in the green.

The action Natixis, it takes 2.51%, to 3.35 euros. The Exchange welcomes the restructuring of the BFI and Jean-Marc Moriani will leave office.

In an interview with Le Figaro, CEO and founder of Iliad (+0.33%), the parent of Free, Xavier Niel puts the figure at 2.8 billion euros by 2012 for its surplus of operation.

NicOx (-0.97%) lifted about 100 million euros in its capital increase.

Sanofi-Aventis coward 1.04%, to 54.13 euros. The group announced the discontinuation of development of two products, one in the treatment of insomnia and the other in the atrial fibrillation.

CNP Assurances (+0.12%) has exercised the option to sell part of its 11.34% stake in Natixis Global Asset Management.

Despite the significant impact of successive delays made the program of the new jumbo Airbus A350, the chairman of its parent, Louis Welsh, said in the columns of the Financial Times that his group will not appeal markets.

The boss of aerospace group EADS has nevertheless conceded that such delays "have an impact on cash Airbus, which suggests the London daily that the group's treasury could melt rapidly due to lower deliveries of had expected next year, raising questions about the long-term funding of new programs.

"We have over 8 billion euros in net cash. When you're in that situation, you do not request funding for your shareholders, "said Louis Welsh. The cost of developing the A350 is generally estimated at over 10 billion euros.Louis Welsh also ensures that the financial difficulties of Dubai, one of the largest customer of Airbus, will have no impact on the European group.

EADS shares evolved to equilibrium at around 11.00 to 12.37 euros, or -0.08% over the closing price last Friday at the Paris Bourse.