International Headlines and Stories

The U.S. stock markets have moved from dark red to balance on Friday afternoon. Opening on a steep downward trend after poor economic data, the indices on Wall Street have reduced their losses after the speech of Barack Obama. Around 17:15, the Dow Jones down more than 0.25% at 12,210 points and the Standard & Poor's 500 yields 0.02% to 1300 points while the Nasdaq 100 round ahead by 0.25% to 2773 points. Thursday, Wall Street recorded a fifth straight session decline.

Barack Obama spoke Friday. He urged Republicans and Democrats to find a solution to raise the debt ceiling by 2 August, when the United States would find themselves in default if no compromise was found."We are very far from reaching an agreement, there are plenty of solutions," tried to reassure the U.S. president, stating that "any solution should be supported by both parties."

A dicours has reassured the markets but in the beginning of sessions, investissuers received three cold showers on.

The bad news on the front of the U.S. economy weighed heavily on the trend of economic growth the U.S. has slowed sharply in 2011 to 1.3% annual rate in the second quarter in a first estimate published Friday by the U.S. government.This growth rate, below analysts' expectations (1.8%), is particularly low given the significant revision of the first quarter, now estimated at 0.4% against 1.9% in June

A little later, more bad news: the U.S. consumer sentiment deteriorated more than expected in July, falling to a level not seen since March 2009, weighed down by rising unemployment and stagnating purchasing power, reveal final estimates of the survey Reuters / University of Michigan reported Friday.

In addition, economic activity in the Chicago area (northern USA) decelerated in July, according to the index released Friday by the professional association ISM, which stood at 58.8 against 61.1 in June

Moody's lowers rating outlook for Spain

Adding to the nervousness of the markets in Europe, the rating agency Moody's is considering lowering the rating of Spain. On the foreign exchange market, the euro was immediately dropped below the 1.43 dollar. Around 11:00, the European currency was worth 1.4276 dollars against 1.4324 dollars on Thursday night. Oil prices also retreated in the late morning. A barrel of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery was trading at 117.10 dollars on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in London, down 26 cents from the close of Thursday.In electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a barrel of "light sweet crude" (WTI) for the same maturity fell by 52 cents to 96.92 dollars.

The side of values

Starbucks (-1% to 39.58 dollars) unveiled for the third quarter of its fiscal year profit up 34% to 279 million and a turnover of 2.9 billion dollars, up 12% and 8 % same-store thanks to an increase in traffic (6%) and average ticket (2%). CEO Howard Schultz commented: "We hope to achieve our EPS growth of 15% to 20% in fiscal 2012. ".

For his part, Metlife (1.48% at 40 and 40 dollars) recorded operating income of $ 16.9 billion, up 33%.Premiums and other revenues increased to 11.8 38U billion, following the acquisition of Alico, while investment income jumped 24% to $ 5.1 billion.

Chesapeake Energy (3.77% to 34.69 dollars) realized in the third quarter earnings per share of 0.76 dollars against 0.75 dollars excluding special items.

Expedia (3.48% to $ 30) recorded an adjusted earnings per share of 0.55 dollars in the second quarter against 0.44 dollar a year earlier. Revenues jumped 23% to $ 1 billion. Gross bookings increased 19% and the number of transactions increased by 15% while advertising revenues rose 27%.

McKesson (0.60% to 80.08 dollars) made from earnings per share for the first quarter of 1.27 dollar against 1.16 dollar last year and a turnover of 30 billion dollars in 9% increase.The company raised its earnings per share target to 6.09 – 6.29 dollars against a previous estimate of 5.55 – 5.75 dollars.

Motorola Mobility (-5.06% to 21.75 dollars) has issued an earnings per share for the second quarter of 0.09 dollars against a loss of 0.3 dollar per share last year. Sales rose 28% to $ 3.3 billion.

The countries of the euro tried Tuesday to better figure than the day before, when the long meeting of their finance ministers had led to no decision on the treatment of the Greek crisis. While financial markets had begun their day with a new rout, especially in Italy and Spain, three elements have helped bring a little calm.

The fall was first halted at midday by the sudden intervention of the European Central Bank, which bought the debt of Italian and Spanish markets to contain the bleeding. Bond yields eased, and banking stocks have rebounded.

Then, after the ministerial meeting, the idea of ​​a summit of heads of state of emergency in the euro area by the end of the week has been mentioned, but not confirmed at this stage .Brussels has not been known for over a year, at the height of the Greek crisis. At the time, Athens had to escape bankruptcy and avoid contagion to other peripheral countries. This time, the issue would be of a different order: stop the contagion to Italy, that is to say, in the heart of the euro area.

Aware of the seriousness and urgency of the situation, the leaders of the eurozone reiterated on Tuesday their "absolute determination to maintain financial stability in the euro area." The panic that swept requires quick and accurate response on the second bailout of Greece, originally presented to September.From Washington, Christine Lagarde, Executive Director of the IMF has also urged Europe to a "rapid implementation" of its promises in favor of Greece.

In Brussels, however, the debate on how the rescue of Athens has remained mired in quasi-theological discussions on the involvement or not of national treasures, the – voluntary or not – private creditors, and the possibility that Greece is formally in default.

The seventeen remain divided.Mezzo voce, increasing numbers of ministers want to raise what they consider to be a taboo that prevents Greece and other countries of the euro at bay to renegotiate its debt on more favorable terms, as do businesses and individuals.

Greek debt buyback

"With this ban, there could have substantial involvement of both voluntary and private sector," said a diplomat from northern Europe. Without it, the creditors can engage in the exercise may be painful but saving the spreading of the debt of Athens, or restructuring. Tuesday, the head of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet, however, was still open resistance to any idea of ​​failure on the part of Athens, as Greece itself."No option is not ruled out one account of what works," says the French Minister, Baroin.

The Eurogroup is exploring avenues to ease the debt burden for Greece. The EFSF, European Financial Stability Fund, may buy back part of the Greek debt (or finance the purchase by Athens) deep discount on the market since it is considered high risk. This track would be more or less to replace the Greek bonds Eurobonds under joint signature. The project has so far faced the hostility of Angela Merkel, keen not to "federalize" the budgetary transfers in the euro area. But the conflagration that threatens growth, perhaps the Chancellor to change the view again.

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The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively climbed 1.42% to 22,068.70 points and 1.84% to 3012.17 points in morning trading on Friday and take the coast on the main stock indexes in Asia Pacific. In Tokyo, the Nikkei is 0.47% at 9641.68 points, in India the BSE wins 1.33% to 17,964.10 points, Singapore, the Straits Times rises from 0.32% to 3054.54 points and Australia, the S & P / ASX earns 0.33% to 4515.20 points.

So yesterday, a barrel of oil fell in New York and London due to the intervention of the International Energy Agency – which drew on its stocks to meet a "shortage", companies the airline industry substantially benefit the stock market. Air China climbed 6.81%, 1.87% of Singapore Airlines and Qantas of 2.33%. Values ​​rise as exporters like Toyota (1.08%) or Toshiba (4.10%). In South Korea, Samsung and LG allows itself 1.2% 0.9%.On Friday, oil prices increased again: the barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August went back to almost 92 dollars (91.94 dollars to be precise). That of Brent North Sea crude for August delivery took 64 cents to 107.90 dollars. Note also that in Australia, the giant telecom Tesltra which drops by 2.7% against a backdrop of advertisements loss widened.

This Friday is also the first trading day of the Italian Prada. The luxury group took 0.25% for its early trade Friday, becoming the latest group to date to be chosen this place in the heart of Asia to raise capital.The action open to 39.60 Hong Kong dollars (3.56 euros), while the Hong Kong Stock Exchange opened with a gain of 0.39%.

In addition to these movements, the mood settles while the Greek case relaxes: Europe Thursday promised a new plan to save Greece from bankruptcy and avoid contagion to the entire euro area or the rest of world, but kept up the pressure to Athens in exchange for adopting an unpopular austerity program.Greece, it has reached an agreement with international donors on the final details of a new austerity plan, whose adoption in parliament expected next week will determine a second aid plan to avoid bankruptcy the country.

The earthquake in Japan will cost 145 billion euros

The earthquake and tsunami of March 11 in Japan have caused direct damage estimated at 16,900 billion yen (147 billion euros), said Friday the Japanese government. This sum corresponds to the destruction suffered by the infrastructure, homes and businesses of northeastern Japan, devastated by an earthquake of magnitude 9 and a giant tsunami that killed more than 23,000 dead or missing.

The government had previously estimated the damage in a range between 16,000 and 25,000 billion yen (139 to 217,000,000,000 euros).

Was expected that Qatar Airways unveils giant Airbus order on Inauguration Day Show. Finally, the company Gulf merely a new order for six Boeing 777 for a total of $ 1.7 billion. When asked what setbacks, Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said yesterday that he was still in discussions with Airbus and the new order was not finalized. "We are still negotiating the terms of purchase of A320 and new A380 Neo. The announcement will take place later, perhaps even after the Paris Air Show, "said the CEO of Qatar Airways, whose existing fleet of 98 Boeing aircraft with only 25.

Akbar Al Baker said he was extremely disappointed with the delays announced by manufacturers on their programs and in particular the delivery of the A350 XWB."We need to have an overview to decide on our purchases of equipment and because of these delays, frankly, we no longer trust."

The officer of the company of Qatar has made no secret that he is very interested in programs of Russian and Chinese manufacturers "based on Western technology".

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A revolution! For the first time, trade unions and employers are required this year to prepare and publish consolidated accounts but also to be certified, if their income exceeds 230,000 euros. The MEDEF has outstripped the obligation, which certify its accounts since 2007, and the UIMM (metal) also holds itself to the year since the scandal of cash withdrawals that hit her.

Side unions, the CFDT is the first to meet that obligation, after the 2008 law on union representativeness. Confederation (the parent) and its 16 satellites are to publish their consolidated accounts for 2010, while his federation will do so before the end of the year.By law, the regional unions and department have postponed for a year and large enterprise unions (La Poste, SNCF …) two years.

According to these consolidated financial statements approved by the National Council and certified without qualification by its auditors, the resources of the confederation headed by Francois Chereque are for three quarters, "internal" membership fees, rents paid by unions from premises belonging to the "conf" financial products … Revenues "external" (public subsidies, 25 permanent paid by their company or home administration of a total of 262 …) represent the remaining 24%.

CFDT confederation, if it were a business, could be described as largely unproductive, as its net profit reached 3.4 million – although down 34% year on year. This "benefit" is fully distributed.Much is destined to the national industrial action (CNAs) – the credit union's anti-strike which is used to compensate the militants and to provide legal support – including reserve amounts to 137 million. This year, 550,000 euros have been set aside to fund the convention of 2014 and 350,000 for the campaign (especially industrial tribunal) to come.

"A subject opaque"

This transparency is not enough new to the group New Center of the Assembly, which has asked a commission of inquiry into the financing of trade unions. "I feel that the unions want to hide things," says Nicolas Perruchot, deputy of Loir-et-Cher.There is little evidence available to us and it is time to shed light on this mat. "

For him, it would be for an organization that benefits from public funds – or militant training grants management of social organizations – accountable. "We know how Nicolas Sarkozy wins or not, but Bernard Arnault Bernard Thibault and Francois Chereque, insists this white knight of the Finance Committee. It is not known how many permanent, by whom they are paid or how the detachments. The member cites the figure of 600 employees seconded to the station."Is it still corresponds to a need for the company when it is struggling to finance infrastructure?" Asks the member hoping to complete its investigation in spring 2012.

Nicolas Perruchot answers on video:

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Unsurprisingly, Georges Tron, accused of sexual assault by two former employees, resigned Sunday as Secretary of State for Public Service, announced earlier this afternoon in a statement the Prime Minister François Fillon who said "take note" of this decision. According to the Elysee is Baroin, minister of Budget and Appropriate Minister Georges Tron, who resumes his duties. A decision that provides the Elysee Palace to make a slight adjustment.

This decision was awaited. In the morning, Le Journal du Dimanche had reported that the resignation of Secretary of State would intervene in the day. According to the weekly, the decision was taken Saturday.It is François Fillon person who would be responsible for prescribing the manner of his departure.

He defends himself in his letter of resignation

"As a private citizen, I will make a personal matter to recognize my innocence while fighting the charges of vindictive two former employees, one was fired for embezzling public funds entrusted to him and the other resigned because of conduct unbecoming, "said Georges Tron in his resignation letter that was provided Lexpress.fr.

"Anyway, the press campaign that they have caused – before any intervention of the judiciary – has received such coverage in the media, that our citizens can consider myself as guilty before my rights have been begin to be implemented: think, Mr. President of the Republic, I have not even informed me that the complaint is, the procedure does not provide (presumably because it does not the public trial that I did), "said the now former Secretary of State for Public Service.

Alain Juppe pushes him towards the exit

In the columns of Le Parisien on Saturday, Georges Tron still seemed to want to believe. "I do not want to be annoying," he noted, while ensuring they do not feel "under siege". "I am extraordinarily serene," he explained in everyday life.Saturday afternoon, his lawyer indicated he would resign if the Head of State or Prime Minister asking him.

But on Sunday, the deal seemed to have changed. Alain Juppe including implicitly invited the secretary of state to resign, saying the government members must be "above reproach". "For now, he is presumed innocent," said Minister of Foreign Affairs on Canal +. "The rest is a matter of personal ethics. I have no lessons to give, but there are moments where he must learn to take responsibility themselves, "he said.

Secretary of State for Public Service is currently the target of complaints from two former employees of Municipal Common Draveil (Essonne), where he is mayor. The prosecution of Evry has given the police a preliminary investigation for sexual assault and rape.The two women have long been heard Thursday by the investigators, who have provided a list of witnesses, mostly city employees, may corroborate their versions.

A third complainant?

Sunday, JDD reveals that a third alleged victim would have emerged and should be heard in the week by investigators. He is a commissioner Draveil moved "on demand" by Georges Tron earlier this year. If we do not know yet the details of this story, a union officer told the weekly that the Secretary of State "was hard on her (the woman) for months. (…) I do not know exactly what happened between them, but I know she has lived all this very badly, "he said.

The lawyer Georges Tron, Mr. Olivier Schnerb, denounced Sunday the "media manipulation which has been subjected.""It is presented in the media as a culprit condemned already" while his two accusers' delight to show on television, "he said. "The defense of Georges Tron has not yet begun.

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This is a new landing that will face the Normandy coast on Wednesday and Thursday. Eighteen heads of state and government and 2,500 delegates are expected to Deauville for the summit of leading industrialized nations, G8, chaired this year by France. The event will be under the supervision of 12,000 policemen. The advent of Barack Obama mobilizes alone 700. "Club", founded in 1975, the G8 gathering for informal discussions leaders theory share the same concerns. But this year, dominated by assistance to countries in the "Arab spring", is also expected to friction, especially between the West and Russia. The succession of DSK to head the IMF should be discussed behind the scenes.

• Support to Arab revolutions

"Deauville is not a donor conference," repeats the French presidency of the G8.The big meeting Norman which will blow a wind from North Africa and the Middle East, will nevertheless announced immediate steps to help Tunisia and Egypt. Both countries have costed their financing needs, respectively, $ 25 billion over five years and a dozen billion through mid-2012. Barack Obama has already unveiled last week a plan with several billion dollars to encourage democratization. The World Bank could disburse up to 6 billion if the reforms continue. Active in the East after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will be redeployed to the southern shores of the Mediterranean. Tomorrow, a long-term partnership will be officially launched between the G8, Tunisia and Egypt, attended by prime ministers of both countries.Russia warned Tuesday the G8, saying that it "must not become an organ of pressure and sanctions." An allusion to the situation in Syria, which appear on the menu of Deauville. Westerners want to ask Moscow to withdraw its threat to veto the adoption of a text by the Security Council condemning the crackdown.

• Intervention in Libya

Intensive launched raids in recent days by NATO to Moscow Tripoli were out of joint. For the Kremlin, these bombings are a "new gap coarse compared with United Nations resolutions" legitimizing military intervention to protect populations bad credit payday advance. The war, which was to be short, and extends the growing dissension within the international community. Paris and London are still at peak. Still in withdrawal, the United States objects to requests that the operation works without them.To evoke the tracks of a crisis, the G8 will turn once again to Africa, including three Heads of State (Niger, Guinea, Ivory Coast) will be present in Deauville. For the first time, the G8 will conclude with a statement co-signed with the Africans.

• Middle East

In Deauville, the UN General Assembly in September, is already emerging. The Palestinians consider to be recognized in New York the creation of their state. Nicolas Sarkozy also raised the prospect, if the process does not move by then, but Barack Obama, just press this point Binyamin Netanyahu, who is visiting these days in Washington, is cons. Americans, Europeans and Russians will compare their approach to the release process. Nicolas Sarkozy will serve as a stimulus by recalling his slogans: "the status quo is not sustainable" and "the parameters of a settlement are known."However, the Quartet (EU, U.S., Russia, UN) has not scheduled a meeting on the sidelines of the summit and no breakthrough is to be expected.

• Nuclear safety

The disaster Fukushima "swept" what the G8 working group on nuclear safety preparing for months for Deauville, says a close case. This afternoon, a session will be devoted to this theme, after a lunch where the leaders will express their solidarity with Japan. The final declaration will encourage countries with power to conduct audits, as did the United States and as Europe is about to do. And she called the international community to provide "the highest security level" possible.The G8 will not enter into details and refer to the ministerial conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which will bring together a larger number of nuclear nations in Vienna, June 20

Over the years, the credit card has become the preferred means of payment by the French, far ahead of the check. Very practical, its use costs, however, rather expensive, according to a study of the UFC-Que Choisir on Tuesday. This points to the "opacity of costs" charged by banks. Beginning with the annual fee, which averages to 47.80 euros. The most common international standard card with immediate debit (72.3% of users), is itself, charged EUR 36.30 per year on average. "Now, 15.30 euro had" no economic justification Identified, "says UFC-Que Choisir.

Adjust their shopping with a credit card can also be very expensive, if payment incident.Especially since, in most cases (64% of purchases), the payment terminal of the merchant does not verify the consumer's account is sufficiently powered.

Result, the consumer too much cricket will be charged fees, commissions called for intervention (8.50 euros on average per transaction). Customers without overdraft (23% in 2010 according to the documentary credit) would pay annually 2.7 billion euros in fresh incidents due to their credit card, including 1.8 billion euros for the only commissions intervention whereas the processing cost of these operations is evaluated by the CFU to 172 million. "This represents 83% margins for banks," Alain Bazot advance, the president of the Association, which campaigns for the abolition of these commissions.It will soon present to the Ministry of Economy of proposals to achieve a "credit card responsibly."

Strong reaction from banks

Just like what happens to our neighbors, she also advocates changing to a system that would systematically check whether the client can pay his purchase. It also proposes to set up a "modular card," because "banks are distributing cards are oversized in relation to the real needs of customers."

Banks have reacted strongly Tuesday. French Banking Federation (FBF) has reiterated that the "system of bank cards offer a service from a very high quality appreciated by customers."In addition, "certain proposals of the UFC-Que Choisir go against the freedom of customer choice and lead to an overall decline in the level of service, as the desire to impose a system to permit systematic" concludes the FBF.

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Not yet a candidate, Christine Lagarde was already the favorite to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn to IMF management, but two rivals have already expressed. Mexico will formally nominate Agustin Carstens, Governor of the Mexican central bank, said Sunday the Minister of Finance of Mexico. He "has the capabilities and qualifications to lead an institution of the importance of the International Monetary Fund," he said. Governor of the Bank of Mexico since January 2010, Agustin Carstens has been deputy director general of the IMF from 2003 to 2006.

Moreover, the Belgian Finance Minister, in office since 1999, Didier Reynders, said Sunday also be "of course" interested in the job. "These are functions that do not refuse," he added. But Europeans seem more a united front around the candidacy of the French Minister of Finance.This weekend, his candidacy has received the support of Germany and the United Kingdom. The Congo would also like to see take the job.

In France, Martine Aubry said yesterday that the appointment of Christine Lagarde at the head of the IMF "would be a very good thing for our country and for Europe." However, Francois Bayrou is against, saying "do not approve economic policy which was followed by France" and lamenting that "Ms. Lagarde was the main actor of the case Tapie.

In a joint statement, Australia and South Africa have called Sunday a nomination on merit, not nationality.A position shared by the representative of Switzerland to the IMF.

After the resignation of IMF Managing Director, accused of attempted rape by the American courts, nominations for his successor will be officially opened on Monday, and until June 10

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When the European Commission is not happy, she indicated in a letter. According to sources, the States Dexia shareholders received one of these missives comminatory few weeks ago. Since then, the Franco-Belgian bank is boiling. The summits have intensified last week. A strategic committee of the board of directors was held on Monday, the eve of a plenary session where the accounts have been arrested in the first quarter. Reportedly, Pierre Mariani, Dexia's managing director, has called for an acceleration of sales of the group, the risk of large losses.

The European Commission accuses Dexia does not respect the roadmap that it had agreed lip service in February 2010, in consideration of state aid received in 2008. Brussels gives go to Dexia in June to come into compliance.The ultimatum is serious: the Commission has in its hands a "nuclear weapon" which would jeopardize state aid … His criticisms affect the balance of Dexia's balance sheet and profitability of own funds on certain transactions below target. "The Commission's complaints are very technical. But the tone makes it clear that the Commission wants a fight because she never believed in Dexia's business model, "recalls a close case.

Faced with this pressure, Pierre Mariani offers to settle permanently in the past. His plan: sell bulk whole sections of the 138 billion euros of assets under management now in extinction. In political terms, this would allow him to get out once and for all that power relationship with the Permanent Commission. Financially, the arbitration is to anticipate future losses and thus save carrying costs story boost future profitability.The Franco-Belgian bank can afford. It has, in fact, a thick mattress capital drives, with a ratio of 13.4%.

No recapitalization

The bank would therefore not need recapitalization whatever the magnitude of the purge restraint. Until then, sales of portfolio inherited from the past were carried out over the water, almost no impairment. But the debt crisis is not helping European Dexia. The bank just to give Crediop Sabadell and its subsidiaries specialized in the financing of local authorities in Italy and Spain.

Go faster? Reflection is ongoing. New decisive meetings are scheduled in two weeks. The acceleration advocated by Pierre Mariani may please the market, but it has a price.According to preliminary calculations, among many possibilities mentioned, the most radical scenario would result in a potential loss of 2 to 3,000,000,000 euros in 2011. The bitter pill for shareholders of Dexia, the Deposit and the state on the French side, Arco, and other Ethias Holding Communal Belgian side, who had subscribed to a capital increase to 9.90 euros per share in October 2008 – it is now worth less than 3.

Monday, Dexia declined to comment on the assumptions and figures, merely stating: "The group will continue to accelerate the financial restructuring while also investing in its franchises." And remember, proof of soundness, that Dexia has generated 280 basis points from Tier One ratio since late 2008.

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