International Headlines and Stories

After Greece, out of bankruptcy risk through the release of a second bailout of 130 billion euros, it was Spain who finds himself in the crosshairs of the Eurogroup, meeting on Monday evening in Brussels. The Spanish finance minister will have to explain on the skids deficits Spanish before his peers, the European Commission and the ECB President.

The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, had a surprise, on March 2, alongside the European Council, stating that Spain would build his 2012 budget with a deficit target of 5.8% of GDP, while that agreed with the EU was 4.4%, to reach 3% of GDP deficit in 2013.

The market reaction was not long in coming. Following this, the cost of borrowing from Spain to 10 years jumped to nearly 5% more than for the first time in months, that of Italy. Guardian of the future "fiscal pact", the European Commission ordered a "serious blunder", brandished the threat of financial sanctions and sent experts to Madrid to assess the fiscal situation. Last year, the Spanish public deficit soared more than expected to reach 8.51% of GDP in late 2011.

Threat of sanctions

"There is no questioning of objectives," says the Spanish Minister of Economy, Luis De Guindos, in an interview Sunday on ABC newspaper. "Spain is a loyal member of the EU who feels bound by the European fiscal rules," he says.

Engaged in a very severe austerity measures, faces a general strike in late March because of its reform of the labor market, Spain is weighed down by losses of its regions, which have slipped to 2.9% of GDP against only 1.3% under-the Madrid region meets its objectives, which weighs heavily on central government accounts.

Barely out of the Greek crisis, "the euro area can not afford a new speculative attack," recalls one in Brussels. The Commission will ask the government to submit a plan "credible" to bring deficits to 3% in 2013, implying a say in Brussels on the draft budget 2012 Spanish.

Monday night, finance ministers from the euro area will give the green light to launch the second program of aid to Greece. Of 130 billion euros, the IMF should be involved up to 18 billion, said Christine Lagarde.

Even the Germans say they are reassured about the situation in Greece. "I am confident that the measures taken hard by the Greek government will put the country on the road to recovery," said German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, unwilling to speculate on a third plan to help … To parry , the European Central Bank will continue its buybacks of bonds on the secondary market, ensures Coeuré Benedict, a member of the Executive Board of the ECB to Japanese newspaper Nikkei.

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Starbucks is more determined than ever to tackle Nespresso. The U.S. coffee chain announced the launch before next summer vacation an espresso coffee machine equipped with a high pressure extraction system. The high-end system, called verismo, was designed in partnership with the German group Krüger. It will work with the Starbucks brand capsules.

Verismo will, initially, sold online, in a selection of chain restaurants and in specialized distributors, while the United States, Canada and "certain international markets." No details were given about the distribution strategy of the capsules (the Internet, in supermarkets …) and their prices.

"France is one of the markets under consideration, such as England or Germany in Europe, said Olivier de Mendez, director of marketing France. But for now, the agreement concerns only the U.S. and Canada. "

"The coffee segment fastest growing"

This launch marks a new stage in the desire for conquest driven by Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, which took over the reins of the company in 2008. Recently asked by Le Figaro (our editions of March 3), he did not want hidden stick as closely to the expectations of customers, wherever they are. In town, in malls, but also "in stations, airports, restaurants, trains and hotels."

The founder will therefore also continue to their home, with this offer premium caps, a growing market. "This segment is the one with the strongest growth in the coffee sector," explains Howard Schultz. "At group level, this is an important innovation that allows people to replicate the Starbucks experience at home, says Olivier de Mendez. The machine will make espresso, latte, coffee and coffee filters lying. "" We now have the opportunity to reach millions of consumers, "commented Jeff Hansberry, in charge of developing distribution channels.

Years ago that Starbucks is trying to sell his coffee out of his own restaurants. A strategy not so easy to implement. The chain, which was allied with Kraft to sell coffee in bags in supermarkets, became angry with the giant global agribusiness and broke the partnership.

Record results last year

In March 2011, Starbucks announced an alliance with the first Keurig and Green Mountain in the machinery sector and pods. This agreement resulted in development since November Keurig machines offering drinks Starbucks in grocery stores and supermarkets. 100 million pods were sold, according to Starbucks. But Keurig machines are low pressure, which does not allow them to make espresso. They offer five different varieties of coffee, but only filter, and two teas.

The announcement of the new agreement between Starbucks and Krüger caused a plunge in stock prices from Green Mountain this weekend. The boss of Starbucks has yet assured that this partnership remained "solid". The stock market especially liked his strategy of moving upmarket. Last year, the company announced record results, and she is determined to put a boost in Europe.

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Axa will grow in non-life insurance in Asia. The French group is about to get their hands on some of the activities of the Sino-British HSBC. The Ace Group and Zurich Australian QBE were also in the race. The announcement of the transaction could, according to a source familiar with the matter, taken as soon as next week, as reported by several Chinese newspapers. At the headquarters of Axa, there was no comment Tuesday.

HSBC hoped to sell all of its activities damage valued around 750 million euros to 1 billion of net premiums collected in 2011. But the British would have resolved to give the geographical batch. And it is on Asia, the birthplace of the banking group, Axa would concentrate.

If it ends, the operation would be part of the new strategic plan for 2015 Axa. This project includes the objectives of growth, cost reduction and redeployment of capital to business lines and countries most profitable. Axa has recently withdrawn and certain activities in developed economies, by disposing of assets in Canada and Great Britain.

The group tries to conquer China for several years. He began a partnership in China in late 2010, ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), the country's largest bank. ICBC had entered the capital of the joint venture specializing in life insurance with Axa had founded the China Metallurgical Group Minmetal and was committed to a distribution agreement. HSBC had begun the sale of its non-life insurance in September.

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Confusion will be enough oil to burn in minutes. Brent crude rose from $ 118 to $ 120 Wednesday at 13:30, while news agencies, citing the Iranian television channel Press TV evoked an immediate suspension of Iranian oil sales in six European countries including France, Greece, the Italy and Spain.

Finally, according to Al-Alam, Tehran has only "warned" that could disrupt its sales in retaliation for the embargo imposed on 23 January by the European Union (EU). But it will not do "for now and for humanitarian reasons because of the cold," said Al-Alam. Six European ambassadors were received by the Director for Western Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hassan Tajik them said his country had found "other buyers". At 14:30, a barrel of Brent crude in London fell back side around 118.40 dollars. By climbing a few moments to 120 dollars a barrel returned to a level reached last summer, also close off the hook early 2011 highs at the beginning of the Libyan war.

Embargo unprecedented EU

The foreign ministers of the European Union adopted on January 23 a series of new economic sanctions against Iran, suspected of developing nuclear weapons program. An embargo "progressive" on imports of Iranian oil has been decided. The bill provides that existing contracts can be implemented until July 1. A delay obtained at the request of the European countries most dependent on Iranian crude, beginning with Greece, which buys 30% of its oil to the regime of Mullah, followed by Italy (13%) and Spain (12% ). Twenty-Seven took weeks to agree on the sanction regime. France for its part does not buy that about 3% of its black gold to Iran.

The progressive nature of the embargo would allow European countries to compensate for expected losses by supplies provided mainly by Saudi Arabia pledged to pump more crude. While Tehran, contrary to the statements of its leaders, is not guaranteed to sell its Asian customers that the oil would be shunned by Europe, the Islamic regime wants to use short-term increases in financial income generated by each spike courses. And perhaps divisions among its customers more or less vulnerable.

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The ultra-LACTEOL for yeast or intestinal disorders, are well known to everyone. Laboratories that manufacture them, and Biocodex Aptalis, are much less. They belong to the hundreds of small labs in the Hexagon making less than 180 million euros in turnover and who feel threatened now.

"Our value is not recognized and we charge more. The 13 taxes for the health industry represents 3% of the turnover of SMEs ", lamented Friday Gerard Dufour, CEO of Amlis, the Association of medium-sized laboratories and healthcare industries. For SMEs to health, which together weigh 11,000 direct jobs and 1.5 billion euros in turnover, "do not disappear", it would cap such fees "depending on the size and profitability as small laboratories, "says the association.

It calls mainly to higher prices. Two-thirds of drugs of its members are, in fact, sold from February to May euros at rates sometimes frozen for twenty years.

One solution would be the dérembourser, advance the association. Provided they do so "consistent" in applying, for example, the same treatment to all drugs of a class.

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After three months of decline (-4.1% from July to September) the property prices have started to increase again in Paris in October, according to the barometer MeilleursAgents.com. A start of surprise that Sébastien Lafond, president and founder of MeilleursAgents.com, analysis as an unexpected new tax measures, notammentla taxation of capital gains, announced by the government. "Under pressure to sell before the deadline of 1 February 2012, and therefore to sign a pledge before the end of October, many owners have decided to put their two room flats on the market," said he. This influx of goods would normally increase the downward trend. Yet the opposite occurred. "The arrival on the market of small areas of good quality in the most desirable areas of the capital (central districts) where the supply is almost always less than demand," boosted the market.Seeking a safe haven in times of crisis, buyers have little discussion of prices these homes that have sold "cheap and fast," says Sebastien de Lafond. In Paris, the transactions were small areas and 63% of the total in October, 10 points higher than the average.

7975 euros per square meter on average

As a result, prices have gained 1.5% on average in October according to the monthly barometer, finding the average level found in the month of April in 7975 euros per square meter. Of course, the increase was not uniform in all districts of Paris. I searched the neighborhoods of the eighth arrondissement rose from 3.5 to 4%, while the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth districts stagnated. The suburb has not seen any improvement.

The Paris Bourse should attempt a rebound on Tuesday, a day after falling more than 3%. Around 8:02, the CAC 40 futures contract shown up 1.02%, suggesting a sharply higher opening of the Paris index. The movement should be a European future since the Frankfurt Stock Exchange advance them to 0.68%.

The problems of sovereign debt, however, should hang over the markets. The pressure rises in the euro zone since Moody's announced that the triple A French was threatened. Spain and Italy are always attacked in the bond markets. Finally, Germany is in the viewfinder of many observers who believe the country could experience a domino effect on the market.

But Europe is not the only one to raise the nervousness of the operators.

For now, the rating agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's reported that U.S. credit rating would not be affected by the failure of these discussions. Fitch, however, said it could revise its outlook on maintaining its AAA rating assigned to the United States. It recalls that it had warned in August that "a failure of the super committee to reach an agreement would likely have a negative result on the rating" of the country.

This news has already had the effect of falling Wall Street yesterday and the stock markets in Asia this morning, confirming the prediction of Japanese Finance Minister, Jun Azumi, said this morning that fearing "a big disappointment in the markets."

Oil rises

Under the spotlight, the United States must deliver on Tuesday the second reading of GDP in the third quarter.

Released in early 2010, a year and a half of recession caused by the bursting of the housing bubble, Spain could plunge into the red. Supported by the only engine of exports and tourism, the economy will suffer from the international slowdown. And domestic demand – consumption and investment – remains stalled, weighed down by record unemployment. Economists forecast a decline in activity over the next two quarters payday loan lenders. For the full 2012, Natixis expects an increase of GDP, limited to 0.2%, even more severe, Bank of America Merrill Lynch expects a fall of 0.7%. Two days before the election, the government had to accept lower growth for 2011 at 0.8% against 1.3%, less than half that expected by Brussels in the euro area.

Occupation: the red lantern of Europe

This is the black point of the Spanish economy.

In the second of the five-day strike of cabin crew of Air France, the company claims to have secured 80% of its flights. According to a spokesperson, it will be the same for Monday. Knowing that the day before, "88% of flights, not 80% as announced" were maintained, she said. The conflict creates a battle of numbers between unions and management. According to the latter, there would be 30% of strikers. For the main trade unions, there are between 50 and 60% of agents who have disengaged. Remember, the movement is to protest against the proposed reduction in the number of cabin crew in some planes.

"Management is currently parades, but it can not hold the road in five days," said Gaëlle Sibril, steward of Southern Air. "That's why we filed a notice of strike for five days because we know they can be organized over two days but no more," she added.As at the airport in Toulouse: Toulouse-Orly ten flights on nineteen planned included were canceled, said the Depeche du Midi. The newspaper also states that "last-minute delays are expected." Note that at Nice, the third busiest airport in France, three flights were canceled Saturday to Paris no fax pay day loan. The same applies to Marseille where five flights were canceled in the direction of Roissy and Orly.

In total, about 200 flights on the 1000 planned were canceled Saturday. To service, the company temporarily restricted to 100 passenger capacity of its medium-haul flights from Orly. This management method was chosen to avoid having to put down passengers for lack of a sufficient number of hostesses and stewards. "It blocks the flights a minimum. Is completed according to the presentation of the crews as and when.Traffic should be disturbed until Wednesday, November 2 included.

In 2007, a similar strike, triggered by the same six unions to the same period of Toussaint, had caused major disruptions. Air France was forced several times to review downward its traffic forecast: 90% of flights expected to be provided the day before, this had increased to 60% during the weekend.

Modified or exchanged for free tickets

The company called to check passengers before they leave for the airport, on the website of the company, the list of flights canceled or delayed. They also know the traffic forecasts by sending an SMS to 63654 with their flight number.

New commercial breakthrough for the Airbus A380. This time in Russia. Transaero Airlines, the second Russian company after Aeroflot, has signed with the European aircraft manufacturer a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of four super-jumbos for $ 1.2 billion (at list prices).

Transaero is the company to launch the A380 in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe. "I am sure that the launch of this device very high capacity will stimulate the development of aviation in Russia, particularly in terms of airport infrastructure (…)», said Olga Pleshakov, CEO of Transaero Airlines. It opted for a passenger can carry 700 passengers, which will be converted into three classes.

For John Leahy, the Airbus super-salesman, "the A380 has a high potential in the Russian market.""We believe that passenger traffic in the region will grow 5.6% annually over the next twenty years." In its latest study of twenty years, Boeing estimates in turn that the needs of Russian companies will revolve around 1000 units including 700 medium-haul aircraft like A 320 and B 737, worth $ 110 billion by 2030.

16 million passengers and 400,000 flight hours

With the command Russian Airbus reached a new milestone payday loans. He recorded 28 orders and purchase intentions this year, marked by the signing of a first contract in Japan with Skymark A380. Overall, the A380 has been ordered to 236 copies per 18 airlines. 59 aircraft have been delivered since October 2007 with the first delivery to Singapore Airlines."That leaves 177 to be delivered which represents four years of work," says a spokesman for Airbus.

From the production side, Airbus is on track to reach its cruising speed is 3 units per month in the second half of 2012. Since late September, the industrial rate is 2.3 per month super-jumbos. This year, Airbus has already delivered 18 aircraft, has set a target of 25 A380s by the end of December.

The manufacturer estimated that the pace in the coming years is to sign at least 25 new orders a year, a level equivalent to its annual production. Airbus will celebrate the end of November the arrival of the 100th convoy giant Lagardère assembly hall. The kit aircraft (six pieces) is sent by road from the port of Bordeaux to Toulouse.

In service for four years, the A380 continues to conquer the global skies. He joins 26 cities in the world.