International Headlines and Stories

It's official! The president of employers' movement Ethic, Sophie Menthon, announced Tuesday on the airwaves of Europe 1, its official bid for the presidency against his current MEDEF Laurence Parisot ruling. Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux bench since its announcement in Le Figaro that he would not seek the presidency of the MEDEF, the campaign was revived with the announcement this morning.

"I want every business in France feel represented by the MEDEF" said one who had resigned just last year the ethics committee of the MEDEF. He added: "This is not the case today. The balance of Laurence Parisot is great, but it must go to the conquest of public opinion. I'm an activist and I will speak in the media. "

The high-profile president of the employers' movement Ethic acknowledged that 2009 has been difficult for the bosses. "They were attacked from all sides.To be closer to public opinion, he must reinstate a discussion now payday loan instant. And for that, it is better to have two candidates. "

"The MEDEF has more need of me than I of him"

On the issue of pensions, Sophie Menthon supports the position that Laurence Parisot has urged the government Sunday to push the legal age of retirement.

Sophie Menthon appeared hesitant when she had to clarify whether it would have the 50 signatures needed to be sponsors of the presidential candidate of the MEDEF. "I think so. I am driven by entrepreneurs.The MEDEF has more need of me than I of the MEDEF, "she says.

The campaign for the presidency of the MEDEF was launched last week by its current boss, Laurence Parisot, who is seeking a second term.

Candidates have until May 1 to declare the election to be held on July 1.

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This had not happened since September 29, 2008. Minutes before the close of Wall Street, the Dow Jones surpassed 11,000 points. Ultimately, the New York index closed at 10,997 points, up 0.64%. On the Nasdaq, it rose 0.71% to 2454 points.

Despite an increase in enrollment weekly unemployment and a shrinking numbers of consumer credit, U.S. investors appear to have courage and choose again, these days, for optimism. They show little worried, finally re-emerging doubts about the ability of Greece to honor its debts. Perhaps partly because, unlike the French or German banks, U.S. banks are not exposed directly to the crisis in Greece.Banks also suspects for 18 of them have, over the last 5 quarters, artificially reduced their debt just before the quarter end.

No significant new flag is expected before Monday, except on Friday, numbers of U.S. wholesalers' inventories for February, which rose 0.6% in February, more than expected, according to figures published Friday by the Commerce Department.

Yesterday, while European stock markets in the green-mountain this morning showed an average decrease of 1% of their stars indices, the Dow Jones closed 0.3% awarded in the S & P 500 also, and the Nasdaq Composite 0.2%. One way to greet the rise, much higher than expected, sales of major U.S. retailers: Index by Thomson Reuters, they rose in March by 9.1% against 6.3% expected, the highest since 2000.Taking advantage of some better weather, 28 distributors have seen their turnover increase by over 9% a year, a further sign of improving consumer confidence payday loans. GAP (1.06% to 24.85 dollars) has seen its turnover grow by 11% against 3.7% expected and Kohl's (0.37% to 56.84 dollars), 22.5 % against 12.4% expected. In the luxury, Nordstrom posted sales up +16.8%.

These values should continue to lead the coast on Friday, and Apple (0.77% to 241.79 dollars), which announced yesterday a new version of its operating system for the iPhone and iPad and sales 450 000 iPad since Saturday.

After the markets have reacted positively on Thursday, rumors of merger between the airlines U.S. Airways and United Airlines, the two companies have had mixed fortunes in the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.U.S. Airways lost 3.05% to 7.32 dollars, while UAL, parent of United Airlines has gained 1.33% to 20.50 dollars. UAL is in talks with U.S. Airways for a combination that would create one of the largest airlines in the world, according to The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. This operation would be carried out no exchange of shares.

China's ambitions Tiffany (0.73% to 49.79 dollars), who wants to spend ten to thirty five the number of stores across the Rising Sun could give impetus to the value.

The California oil company Chevron (2.37% to 79.50 dollars a barrel) announced yesterday the results on the first quarter of 2010 as the fourth best in 2009. The group takes advantage of the rising oil prices and a possible improvement in refining margins.The major U.S. must publish its accounts on April 30.

In the pharmacy, the distributor McKesson Corp. (-0.06% to 66.56 U.S. dollars) has announced it will sell its Asia Pacific unit, which provides health services through telephone and Internet, Medibank Private Limited. Giant Australian health services and insurance.

The CAC 40 is expected to start Thursday's session in the red, in the wake of U.S. markets yesterday and Asian stock markets this morning. On Wednesday, the CAC 40 closed 0.67% in decline and ended at 4026 points.

Around 8:15 am, the CAC 40 index futures to predict an opening in April 2010 were down 0.38% to 4014 points.

The Greek situtation continues to worry, with its market "disconnected from reality", according to analysts. Wednesday noon, the Greek rate climbed to 7.176%.

The euro declines further against the dollar Thursday in favor of safer currencies considered as the yen. Around 8 am, the euro stood at 1.3332 dollars against 1.3339 dollars on Wednesday in 23 hours.

The ECB decision this afternoon

In France, the day will begin with the publication by the customs authorities of foreign trade value in February (at 8:45).The Department of Budget, at the same time, unveil the monthly statement of the State budget through February. Regarding the euro area, 11 hours, investors will pay particular attention to the retail trade, still for the month of February.

But the decision of the ECB (European Central Bank) on interest rates from the European Union will be scrutinized even more closely. If the status quo is widely expected, any change of tone in the speech of Jean-Claude Trichet could be perceived as a sign of a future monetary tightening.

In the U.S., the most watched weekly claims for unemployment benefits, at 14:30, will be published.Wednesday evening, Ben Bernanke, the Fed chief, said the United States are not "derived from business" and that the country will have to make sacrifices "inevitable" to resume a stronger growth.

Lagard?re pressure

On the alliance Renault-Nissan and Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, has welcomed the agreement. With their partnership, both groups rely on synergies and economies of scale to 2 billion euros each. They also intend to expand their cooperation. "It's not good at the right time, and for good reasons," he said Wednesday at a news conference.

Furthermore, tensions are growing between Lagard?re and Wyser-Pratte. The activist investor has scored two resolutions to the General Meeting of April 27.Note that since March 25, when the Franco-American investor said it held 0.53% of the media group, Lagardere's share rose almost 10%.

According to Les Echos, Airbus, EADS subsidiary, has 60 orders since the beginning of the year. Airbus has delivered 122 planes during the period for airlines including three A380s.

Maurel and Prom of 2009 results published in the red but was confident for 2010. The oil company proposed a dividend of EUR 0.10 (cons 0.35 for 2008).

EADS, Airbus's parent company, it going down into the arena against Boeing in an attempt to win a giant contract for 35 billion dollars to supply the U.S. Air Force 179 tanker aircraft? The Pentagon has declared its readiness to extend 60 days of the closing date of the new tender for all EADS decides to apply. The giant European aerospace must inform the Pentagon beginning in May If EADS contributes again, the two candidates have until July 9 to respond to the call for tenders, the Pentagon will render its verdict this fall.

This proposal of the Ministry of Defense, Boeing has missed Thursday comes in the wake of the Obama-Sarkozy meeting in Washington. The two presidents have sought to calm the sceneBarack Obama has promised that the tender would be fair, Nicolas Sarkozy told to trust the President of the United States and found that EADS should respond.

Today, there is no reason to think that the Pentagon will change the 400 evaluation criteria for the tender as Northrop Grumman, EADS ally, was considered biased and cut on able to benefit Boeing and its 767 KC B facing the Airbus A 330 KC. In early March, Northrop decided to throw in the towel and not to compete; EADS had followed.The duo had yet won the contract in 2008 but was canceled.

If the criteria do not change, why it would persist EADS? The stakes are high because Airbus is counting on this contract to settle industrial United States with an assembly plant in Alabama to become a supplier to the Pentagon and a leading market player in the military world.

Therefore EADS can withdraw without having explored all avenues. "The Pentagon is not a political stance: it has opened the door. The question is whether we can rebuild the economy of the project with new partners while meeting the criteria with the best possible price cash advance no fax.This in 60 days, "says one at EADS.

Pentagon Approval

Mission impossible? This time, the group led by Louis Welsh would hand over the project and the allocation of tasks and margins because the Pentagon has agreed to accept as a leader (prime contractor), whereas previously this function was reserved for an American, namely Northrop.

EADS believes can be because it has already proven with the tanker for the Australian Army with the first aircraft to be delivered in Canberra in late 2010. The aircraft systems through the nacelles or the boom, the refueling boom, EADS and Airbus have done everything. Clearly, they have already militarized apparatus.In the U.S., the group would appeal to American partners with specific expertise that does not hold, for example on defense electronics (transmission interconnection between the planes of the U.S. Air Force …). Groups such as BAE Systems, Honeywell or L3com provide a good profile.

As a "bonus", EADS bear more risk, but still would review its pricing policy. In contrast, no question of taking the contract loss. EADS must reach adjust its prices so that its plane, larger than that of Boeing, is competitive. The Pentagon has made it clear he wants the best device whose capabilities are at least those of an airplane that looks like two drops of water in B767 and the lowest price. The Pentagon would not refuse a bigger plane if it did not cost more. The equation is complex.For now, the prevailing consensus within EADS to study the way to the end. But nothing is yet decided.

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After eight consecutive sessions of gains, U.S. investors have decided to take a breath. The week ends so in the red on Wall Street on profit taking. The Dow Jones a coward for closing 0.35% at 10,741.98 points. The Nasdaq lost 0.71% to 2374.41 points and the S & P 500 drops 0.51% to 1159.90 points.

The week was marked by the rise of the Dow Jones on Thursday at its highest for a year and a half (0.42% to 10,733.37 points). For the week, the flagship index of New York has gained 1.01%. Since the beginning of the year, it earned 3.01%.

"After a series of fairly impressive gains, we approach the weekend with many uncertainties: what will happen with the reform of American health care system, what will happen with Greece," observed Craig Peckham, the brokerage firm Jefferies. "It gives a reason to take profits," he added.According to analysts, the lack of activity of the market could continue next week due to lack of key indicators.

Raw materials have saddled the atmosphere

Place New York was also taken by surprise by a rate hike the central bank in India, one of the engines of world economic growth. The decision raised fears of slowing growth in the country, weighing on the sectors most sensitive to economic conditions (industry and technology), on commodity prices, and therefore the energy and mining sectors. The aluminum producer Alcoa (-0.28% to 14.26 dollars) or the oil company ExxonMobil (-0.52% to 57.04%) have evolved into the red during the entire session.

The dollar has also strengthened. Under pressure for several weeks, the euro has been penalized by the Greek uncertainties. The euro has lost 0.55% to 1.3535.

Palm collapses

The action of the mobile phone manufacturer Palm fell heavily on Friday. It tumbles down 28.50% to 4.04 dollars. Investors punish new quarterly losses and forecast a very pessimistic bad credit personal loan lenders . Over the period from December to January, the manufacturer of Pre lost 22 million dollars, twice the previous quarter and more than expected by analysts. The revenue (almost $ 350 million) is better than expected, but because of poor consumer sales of its devices by the operators, it is expected to "less than" 150 million dollars, twice less previously anticipated.

The largest bookseller in the United States, Barnes & Noble (+0.26% to 22.96 dollars) has announced that it would change the CEO.This is the current president of the group's website, William Lynch, who will replace Steve Riggio at the head of the company. The future leader has helped launch the electronic bookstore Barnes & Noble and he oversaw the launch of an electronic book reader called the Nook, a product designed to compete with the readers of e-books competitors, such as the Kindle or the 'iPad.

FedEx (-1.75% to 91.05 dollars) posted net earnings of $ 239 million, up 146% in the third quarter. Based on the number of shares, the result stood at 76 cents. The logistics group has exceeded its own targets, which ranged from 50 to 70 cents, and estimates of analysts, who on average expected a figure of 72 cents. The operating profit jumped 129% to 416 million dollars for an operating margin of 4.8% against 2.2% a year ago.

Aetna argues the document.The life insurer believes that its earnings per share in the first quarter will exceed the consensus Wall Street (66 cents) to 2.55 dollars, or $ 2.65. The action ended up 3.58% to 34.43 dollars.

The U.S. aircraft manufacturer Boeing has announced that it would expedite the production of its 777 aircraft and 747 to meet the growing demand from customers. Sign that the aerospace market is recovering. The securities are 0.30% to end at 71.08 dollars, after opening up over 2%.

One would think that prudence would limit the rebound in markets in Paris, pending the release of monetary policy the Federal Reserve, expected at 19.15, this mardi.Et that, after closing down slightly on the Tokyo Stock Exchange this morning. Finally, the rise of the index in Paris should be solid on the future of the CAC 40 index rose 0.73% to 3917 points. On Monday, the CAC 40 has yielded 0.93% to finish the session at 3 890.91 points.

The consensus, the status quo on the rate seems to be accepted, but the market awaits clarification on possible exit strategy crisis Fed.This meeting will be the anchor of Tuesday's session, very lean corporate earnings, but punctuated by economic indicators.

Thus, France will release at 8:45 the inflation figures for the month of February and the index of prices in supermarkets also in February, to 12 hours.

In Germany, the market will follow the German ZEW index of investor confidence.

Finally, the EU finance ministers will meet on Tuesday, including the agenda monitoring the formal notice to Greece in February about the improvement in public finances.

In the struggle between the United States and China on the currency market, members of Congress sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke requested that the yuan is on the list of currencies handled in the annual report issued by the Obama administration next month.

Values follow

Steria: services company in computer engineering was published on Monday a net profit group share of fiscal 2009 from 48.2 million down 6.6% compared to the result of last year.Its annual turnover fell by 3.1% at constant scope and exchange, to $ 1.630 billion, but this decrease was slightly lower than expected (-3.5%). The group expects a first semester "difficult".

NextRadio TV: The media group NextRadioTV presented Monday after-hours trade, a net deficit of 6 million euros in 2009 when analysts expected a loss of 2.7 million. The group has however decided to pay its shareholders a first dividend in its history which amounts to 0.2 euro per share for the year 2009.

Renault and Daimler have begun talks on a mutual stake in the framework of a long-term cooperation, the Financial Times.Furthermore, Renault sales rose 30% in February to 109,663 units.

PSA-Peugeot: The automaker recorded in February, up from 18.4% to 149,128 vehicles, according to figures published by the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA).

Assystem: In a statement, the group specializes in the field of engineering and innovation consulting published under the fiscal 2009 net income group share a deficit of 800,000 euros against a profit of 25.8 million euros in 2008. Its annual turnover has decreased by 8.8% to 613.1 million euros. The operating margin from 6.7% in 2008 to 3.6% in 2008. As for the dividend has been halved, to $ 0.25 respectively euros per share.

The boom in fuel prices had widened the trade deficit in French in 2008. In 2009, the fall in oil prices has allowed France to limit the damage. The French trade deficit, is to tell the difference between exports and imports stood at 43 billion euros in 2009 against 55.4 billion in 2008, according to official figures published this friday.

The year 2009 was marked by a sharp fall in world trade has declined by 13% by volume. In this context, French exports fell by 17% and imports by 18% in value, is the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade. "However, from the second quarter, with the gradual recovery of international trade, the French foreign trade contributed positively to the French growth, it is said in the statement creditreport . In turn, the CEO said last night that the constraint exercised by the employees was "devoid of aggression," and that the situation was "not annoying".

Employees require a half months of salary per year of seniority. Management, however, limits his proposal to a month for five years seniority."The supra-legal claims are being negotiated, nobody will be cheated of his rights, had assured the CEO Monday, pending a meeting Wednesday with Claude Ben Behe, Chairman of the Board of Directors of F?rfina, principal shareholder of Pier Import. The Industry Minister Christian Estrosi said Tuesday morning on LCI it was the duty of government to "ensure" that a "way forward" is found for each employee, but said he can not be "real negotiations when there is violence."

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Wall Street should open in a tone slightly negative on Friday. However, publication of results in the fourth quarter of giant Intel on Thursday night after-hours trading was better than expected. But the JP Morgan Chase established the doubt. The day before the U.S. markets have closed up slightly, despite the disappointing statistics across the Atlantic. The sectors of health and technology have supported the trend.

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

The Dow Jones, S & P 500 and Nasdaq retrograde by 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.16%.Shortly before they were further back but the index of industrial activity in the New York area has accelerated sharply in January, according to the Empire State index released Monday, to 15.9 points, much higher than the waiting analysts.

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

New wave of statistical significance

Even today, the news on the economic front should shake the markets.The consumer prices in the United States rose by 0.1% in December, bringing inflation over the whole of 2009 to 2.7%, according to figures released Friday by the Labor Department. In the short term, the inflation risk sembre low.

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

Intel and JP Morgan Chase surprised

Intel (-1.27% to 21.21 U.S. dollars) Thursday confirmed the resumption of its activities, with net income nearly tenfold in the fourth quarter of 2009, which allowed him to limit to 17% decline in annual net profit, to 4.369 billion dollars. This exceeds the expectations formulated earlier by analysts.Conversely, Microsoft (0.71% to 31.18 dollars), IBM (+0.28% to 132.68 dollars) and Cisco (+0.16% to 24.99 dollars).

Boosted by a return to growth in the fourth quarter, PC sales grew by 5.2% in 2009, according to a study by analyst firm Gartner published yesterday. Acer dethroned Dell (-2.38% to 14.35 U.S. dollars) in second place worldwide.

This Friday, JP Morgan Chase (-1.70% to 43.93 dollars) has announced having doubled its net profit in 2009 to 11.7 billion dollars. Per share, net income reached 74 cents per share in the fourth quarter, against 62 held by analysts. In the fourth quarter alone, the bank has increased by more than four net profit to 3.3 billion dollars. The bank's CEO, Jamie Dimon, welcomed the news that the bank in late 2009 enjoyed a "very strong capital ratios Tier 1 of 11.1%.But the cost of risk (failure to pay on credit) remains "high". The bank especially in its accounts last quarter to 7.3 billion dollars in reserves to cover these risks.Morgan Stanley lost 2.60% to 30.39 dollars, Goldman Sachs 1.25% to 166.42 dollars, and Bank of America 1.96% to 16.49 dollars.

Citigroup (-1.71% to 3.46 dollars) would be decided by the Financial Times, to cap the bonus at $ 100,000.

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

In addition, Verizon Communications (-1.19% to 30.85 dollars) will host a conference on its wireless subsidiary, which is partly owned by Vodafone (-1.78% to 22.10 dollars).

Oil retreats, dollar strengthens

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

The dollar is strengthening against the euro, which is penalized by the situation in Greece after the publication of inflation. One euro is worth 1.4395 dollars.

The number of new listings weekly unemployment has never been this low since mid-2008 the United States. During the week ended December 26, 432,000 cases were filed, against 452,000 the previous week, according to figures released Thursday in Washington.

This new statistic goes against the expectations of analysts. The consensus of economists polled by Reuters had expected an upward effect on new registrations to 460,000.

The downward trend observed since the spring is thus confirmed, after two weeks of increases observed in early December.