International News

After two years of hangover, Champagne sees the end of the tunnel. Monday evening, wine producers and traders have agreed on the amount of grapes they can reap in the next harvest. This year, from mid-September, the owners of vineyards can recover from the vines which produce 301 million bottles of champagne. That's 8% more than last year.

For the first time, players of Champagne, accustomed to hear only a few days before the first shots of secateurs, have chosen to define rules in the middle of summer. "We wanted to send a sign of serenity," said Ghislain de Montgolfier, the president of Champagne houses.It was harder last year. "At that time, negotiations had resulted in a stormy painful compromise, after which the harvest made possible the production of only 277 million bottles, or 30% less than 2008.

The Champagne was going through a major crisis and was with a stock of 1.2 billion bottles on the arms, well above the sector's needs. The crisis was finally serious than feared months: after falling by 5% in 2008, sales declined 9% in volume last year … and 16.6% in value.

Since then, sales leave. In the first five months of the year, they rose 20% in volume. "The market was very well presented in recent months, and the tendency of June confirms May's figures," says Le Figaro Ghislain de Montgolfier cheap credit report.Sales rose 9% in France, 25% in the European Union, and even 69% in the rest of the world.

However, compared to a year, higher volumes is still only 2.7%. The end of the year represents the bulk of the activity. For all of 2010, the Interprofessional Committee for Wine of Champagne (CIVC) said that sales will reach 315 million bottles, representing an increase of 8% compared to 2009. Some players even think that sales will recover their level two years ago.

Optimism not shared

"We're out of the hollow, recognizes Ghislain de Montgolfier. Our only problem is to anticipate the year-end sales. Everything will depend on the general level of consumption, particularly in Europe. In case of decline, we might have to suffer. "

In Champagne, everyone does not share the optimism of some."Sales volumes remain below those of 2008, and there will be loss of value, fears Dominique Pierre, CEO of Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte. There are still a lot of sales of champagne, entry-level or on promotion. We can not talk about the crisis. With the economic austerity policies in Western Europe must be realistic. "

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The CAC 40 will reach there to stay above the psychological threshold of 3,500 points on Thursday? The answer has been given to opening. The leading index starts from Paris on a gain of 0.94% to 3516.13 points. A mid-term it moves from 1.21% to 3525.42 points. The goal now is to maintain this threshold, which had not been reached Wednesday.

The Paris stock exchange following the pulse of Wall Street on Wednesday, finished on a second consecutive increase of almost 3%, driven by the banking sector. This morning, Asian markets were also all in green.

Other European stock markets followed the same route: the London FTSE gains 1.42% to 5086.04 points in early trade.

The German Dax, meanwhile, gained 0.54% to 6025.32 points.In Germany, the operators were a bit chilled by the announcement, before opening a trade surplus in weaker growth than expected in May. Exports accounted for, adjusted for seasonal variations, 80.8 billion euros (+9.2%), while imports rose 14.8% to 70.3 billion euros. The trade surplus stood at 10.6 billion euros against 12.8 billion in April and 13.5 billion expected. The current account surplus has, for its part, in May represented 2.2 billion euros against 11.3 billion the previous month.

Investors now await the publication Thursday in the U.S., inscriptions weekly unemployment. Before that, the ECB should communicate their rates in the euro area.

The banking sector monitored

The banks have managed to bring the key index in Paris on Wednesday.On Thursday, they stay the course and top the charts. BNP Paribas (2.87%), Societe Generale (2.77%), Credit Agricole (+0.55%) are among the 91 banks submitted to stress tests (stress tests) whose European list been notified Wednesday by regulators. Investors are also relieved that tests the strength of the European banks will not include sovereign debt discount on German and French loans that could also potentially be delisted.

Faurecia (3.57% to 14.95 euros) announced Wednesday it had signed a strategic alliance with China Geely and Limin to develop, produce and deliver systems within the body and the marks of Geely.

More generally, the industry is likely to move throughout the session.After Peugeot (1.13% to 22.45 euros) is the turn of Renault (1.39% to 32.79 euros) to publish its first half trading results this Thursday. Given the success of the Dacia its competitor, Peugeot would also consider launching a low cost car in Europe.

GDF Suez (+0.08% at 24.61 euros) Wednesday reported a rebound of 10% of gas demand in Europe since early 2010, after a decline of 5% in 2009.

Carrefour (1.07% to 34.56 euros) announced Wednesday that he did not buy certain products in paper group in Indonesia Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), for environmental issues.

CGG Veritas (1.63% to 15.63 euros) announced Thursday that the overall availability of its vessels was 92% in the second quarter 2010, against 90% in the first and 89% in the second quarter of 2009.

Total (1.87% to 37.90 euros) enjoys a higher recommendation by UBS.The broker passes the purchase cons "neutral" before.

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.

This is not a surprise but the time is more than ever in a pinch. Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy will meet on Monday to prepare the European Council by the end of the week and the G20 Toronto. Discussions will focus obviously on public deficits in the euro area, including sanctions to apply against the states that are lax or new ways of coordination of economic policies. Originally scheduled on June 7 last, the interview was postponed, allowing the two leaders unveiled their own plans for savings.

French plan considered "practicable"

The plan submitted by Paris this weekend, is considered "feasible" by the Governor of the Bank of France, Christian Noyer.This has indeed said Sunday he is "perfectly possible" for France to bring its public deficit to 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2013 as foreseen in the government aims to reduce the public deficit (government, corporate accounts, local communities), 100 billion. To do this, the Governor of the Bank of France has called for "priority measures to reduce expenses."

Effort on the sources of expenditure

And that's the government's target. The Budget Minister Francois Baroin said Sunday that the objective will be achieved by making "a major effort on all sources of expenditure, the state plans to cut public spending by 45 billion euros. The Minister added that this effort on ITélé would "not less" than in Germany.In Germany, the government wants to save 80 billion by 2014, thanks to budget cuts in military spending and social.

The question remains what the market reaction. For now, a report published Sunday by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) says that the bailout of the European Union has not defused the fears of the markets. The institutions in Basel has also reaffirmed that the French and German banks are particularly exposed to the debts of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain with a respective total of 493 billion and 465 billion dollars.

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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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just been presented with a request for assistance from Greece. Until now, the IMF provided only technical assistance to Athens. The team of experts is hard at work in the capital of Greece. "We are ready to act quickly in response to this demand," said Dominique Strauss-Kahn Friday, IMF Managing Director. And Youssef Boutros-Ghali, chairman of the board of the institution, recalled: "Aid to Greece will take time. This can not happen from one day to another. "Especially since the Papandreou government is engaged in negotiations on a plan" covering several years. "

So far, the IMF had not been involved in developing the plan of the European Union. This is not a member of the board of the fund. The proposals could therefore engage the IMF, said it does in Washington.It is expected to "several weeks" of negotiations. The amount of the full plan could exceed the record $ 58 billion set by Korea in 1997 with the conditions negotiated by the IMF.

The multilateral institution also assumed that the share of aid to Greece will represent one third of the package agreed by the other countries of the euro area. But this figure could possibly change after the verdict of the negotiators of the fund. The absence of a margin for adjustment by devaluation, however, seriously complicates the terms that the IMF should negotiate with the Greek authorities.This is not entirely without precedent: for example, Latvia has received 1.7 billion euros from the IMF in 2008, as part of an international package of 7.5 billion, while keeping its currency indexed euro.

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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.

Antoine Gosset-Grainville, deputy director of Fran?ois Fillon's office for nearly three years, will soon be appointed Director General of the Caisse des Depots et des Consignations (CDC). A decree of the President of the Republic should, except surprise formalize the appointment.

Revealed last week by Le Point, arriving rue de Lille, where they are officially "no comment" – is not expected until May. It would also be included in a broader reorganization of the management team of the Caisse des Depots, whose mission has grown with the crisis of the past two years.

Antoine Gosset-Grainville, 44 years Wednesday, should be specifically in charge of financial matters and strategic subsidiaries and shareholdings.Alain Quinet, currently director of finance, strategy and sustainable development, would be offered another position in the house.

Inspector of Finance, former lawyer for competition at Gide Loyrette Nouel, "the man with suspenders" Matignon is both well-versed in the intricacies of state and business community for having had the upper hand with the Prime Minister on economic issues: strategist, he has "all the qualities for the job," says a former employee.

The idea of the director general of the public, Augustin de Romanet, is among other muscles of the piloting of subsidiaries – NPC, Transdev, ISPs … – and the role of shareholder faxless payday advance .The CDC is indeed present in this capital of many companies, some of which (Post, Dexia) will be on center stage in the months ahead.

By calling to him near the existing power-AGG is not only close to Fran?ois Fillon but also appreciated the team-Elysian former Deputy Secretary General Jacques Chirac is also an asset in his game Admittedly, Augustine Romanet is now guaranteed to go to the end of his term when his post had been many rumors at the beginning of the quinquennium.But the CDC and its branch are under surveillance, to the end of March 2012 will arise when the question of renewing the current mandate.

On Monday, the CGT said that "if confirmed, the arrival (Antoine Gosset-Grainville editor's note) would complete the questioning of the republican principle of autonomy of the CDC, which is threatened to" UMPisation " . Outside of any political stripe, the CDC has seen in recent years, several deputy directors of the Matignon office. Dominique Marcel (with Lionel Jospin), Augustin de Romanet (with Jean-Pierre Raffarin) and Alain Quinet (with Dominique de Villepin) especially had before him, opted for the venerable institution.

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 AMF (AMF) is finally reached. In a work that appears on Thursday, entitled "Natixis: investigation of a bankrupt state" (Editions First Editions), Matthew Pechberty, economic journalist of The Tribune reveals that the former leaders of Natixis, Charles Milhaud and Dominique Ferrero respectively Chief Executive and Managing Director of Natixis at the time, had provided false information regarding the losses incurred by the subsidiary of Banques Populaires and Caisse d'Epargne (BPCE) in October 2008.

Thus, November 12, 2008, The Tribune published an article claiming that the French bank lost 975 million euros during the month of October 2008. The next day, Natixis publish a press release reporting a loss of 500 million euros.After two attempts that were inconclusive for lack of evidence, the MFA works on a third survey that revealed in the fall of 2009, that former leaders of Natixis lied, without confirming the figure released by the Tribune. Thereafter the policeman of the Stock Exchange sent a notification of grievance Natixis which he accuses of having issued false information to financial markets. Currently, the MFA has refused any comment.

Jouyet want to prove that he has turned the page "EADS"

The fate of former leaders of Natixis is now in the hands of the Enforcement Committee, which has still not taken any decision on it. According to the author of the book, the final decision could be announced in the month of March payday loans no teletrack .This committee consists of twelve members: two state councilors appointed by the Vice-President of the State Council, two advisers to the Supreme Court designated by the first President of the Court of Cassation, six members appointed by the Minister Economy, and two employee representatives designated by the Minister of Economy.

In the meantime, this decision should celebrate the Adam (Association for the Defense of Minority Shareholders), and D?minor. Last March, the Adam chaired by Colette Neuville has indeed brought a criminal complaint against Natixis for "misleading", "false balance" and "fictitious dividends. In January, it was the turn of D?minor, firm specializes in advising shareholders, headed by Fabrice Remon, a complaint, but a civil rather than criminal.One option that could help stop the proceedings at any time to negotiate amicably with Natixis and compensate shareholders.

Although close to Fran?ois Perol BPCE current boss, is to think that Jean-Pierre Jouyet, chairman of the AMF, has at heart to carry out this procedure, to avoid the Paris to undergo another blow, we know it still marked by the action taken on the matter EADS.

The two former leaders of Natixis, Charles Milhaud and Dominique Ferrero, risk a financial penalty of up to 10 million euros.

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