International Headlines and Stories

Should win earlier this week, losing on Friday night. Having won respectively 23.89%, 18.65% and 20.90% on Monday, following the European Agreement on plan to help the euro area, the three biggest French banks were closed on of declines: Societe Generale, -8.63%, Credit Agricole, -6.43%, BNP Paribas, -7.41% … French banks weigh heavily on the Paris Bourse. The CAC 40 has closed Friday on a depressing note: at the close of the Paris Stock Exchange index lost 4.59% and Paris has fallen below the 3600 points to 3560 points.

His European counterparts also suffer, while banking stocks enroll the largest declines, everywhere.

This reflects the renewed concern about the economic health in Europe, barely a week after the European plan negotiated the titanic last weekend.Further evidence of the uncertainty room, the euro broke the 1.25 dollar, which had not happened for 14 months. Gold coast near 1,240 dollars per ounce. Unheard-of. And oil is under $ 74 a barrel.

Banks underperforming in Europe

In Italy, while the FTSE-Eb hollow losses and was down 5.26%, many bank stocks are at the bottom of the list: in order, Mediobanca, 4.50% to 6.15 euros Banco Popolare, 6.21% to 4.16 euros, UniCredit, 6.27% to 1.81 euros and Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's leading bank, yield 5.11% to 2.18 euros.

In Spain, same old story. The Ibex 35 largest market capitalizations falters 6.64%, and banking sector heavyweights weigh box. Banco Santander, the second largest bank in Europe, falling 9.28% to 8.31 euros.BBVA folds of 7.58 euros to 8.78% and 6.46% of Bankinter at 4.7 euros.

The Dax in Frankfurt – the index of 30 companies the biggest German stock exchange down 3.12%. But again, it is Deutsche Bank, which is at the bottom, falling 4.15% to 48.75 euros. The boss, Josef Ackermann, questioned the ability of Greece to repay its debt. And Commerzbank sells 4.13% to 6.10 euros.

In Belgium, KBC retrograde 5.48% to 30.85 euros and Dexia 5.63% to 3.6 euros in a market down by 3.46% for the Bel 20. And in Switzerland, UBS depreciates 2.83% to 0.10 euros and the financial group CS Group lost 4.08% to 33.23 euros.

The bank still frontline

Fears of a state unable to feed its fiscal risk of lowering its rating by a rating agency.But what are the financial institutions in a country with the largest of government securities in the portfolio.

Generally, capital financial institutions required to hold an asset also depends on the "rating" (the note) of the issuer of this title. If it deteriorates, the capital required to hold a state title will be more important.

As banks are exposed to Treasury securities, profitability and solvency is lowered … hence the fall in stock.

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Most of the people assume all individual health insurance plans to be similar. And it is here they do the mistake.

With sales were down 16% to 1.32 billion euros, an EBIT of 139.2 million (-9.6%) and a net profit of 95.9 million euros ( -3.2%), the first quarter of Technip is declining, but these figures are higher than analysts' expectations.

Despite competition "intense in all regions," Thierry Pilenko, CEO of the company has entered the CAC40 almost a year ago, noted "signs of recovery."

The evidence, the backlog has reached the end of March 2010, 8.13 billion euros, compared to 8.02 billion euros at end December 2009 and 6.93 billion euros at end-March 2009."Estimates of the group, envrion 47% of the backlog should take the next nine months of 2010."

In addition, the giant engineering and construction sector of the black gold is pleased to have recorded a total of 1.34 billion euros in new orders in the first quarter of 2010, against 1.15 billion euros a year ago.

Annual target unchanged

Thus, the direction of the oil services specialist confirmed Thursday morning his goals for the current year.Annual revenues are expected in a band between 5.9 and 6.1 billion euros (between -5.5% and -9.5% in one year) and operating margin is still seen stable.

Remember however that annual sales had been revised downward in February, while Technip had published annual results in freefall – net income fell 62% year on year – and the speech concerning the outlook remains worrying .

A contract "major" in Brazil

Yesterday, Wednesday, Technip said it had won a contract by Petrobras for the flexible pipe system driver Tupi field. He refers to the agreement a "major", with "key challenges" at the technical level.This field is situated at 2,200 meters depth of water in reservoirs pr?salif?res Santos Basin, about 300 km off the Brazilian coast.

The transaction amount was not specified. But with this new contract, Technip strengthens its leading position in Brazil, especially in the promising market tanks pr?salif?res.

In Stock

In just two sessions, the Technip shares have lost nearly 8%. Wednesday night, they quoted at under 60 euros to 58.27 euros exactly.

On Thursday morning, the shares resumed colors: they rise from 1.22% to 59.08 euros by 9:30. This is the second best performance of the benchmark index of the Paris market.

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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).

After limited Wednesday its losses due to degradation of the note of Portugal by U.S. rating agency Fitch, the CAC 40 should be cautious. Thursday and Friday, will take effect in the European Council in Brussels. Support measures to Greece are expected, involving the IMF and covering several tens of billions of euros.

The program also published a series of U.S. data – weeks claimed Thursday to 13 hours, and a third estimate of GDP for the fourth quarter of 2009 Friday at 13.30 – and the presentation from 9 hours by Jean-Claude Trichet's annual report the European Central Bank before the European Parliament.

As for values, the series of publications is nearing completion. Thursday Hermes presents its annual results for 2009.

Bank stocks are also monitored on the sidelines of the Brussels European Council.

The Italian A2A accelerates the process of selling its stake in Edison to EDF, a transaction that would allow the French group to take control of Italy's number two electricity, it was learned from sources close to the matter.

Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Spain are planning to protest together with the U.S. President Barack Obama against the forced removal of EADS bidding for tanker aircraft for the U.S. Air Force says Thursday newspaper Les Echos.

TF1 got the green light by the High Council of Audiovisual (CSA) to buy chains and TMC NT1 group but AB's subsidiary Bouygues will make certain commitments.

KKR announced Wednesday the sale of a stake of 4.4% in Legrand through a process of "book building" accelerated.It will own 20.6% of the capital and 27.5% of the voting rights of French group at the end of the assignment. Wendel for his part said not to join the operation and maintain its 24.9% stake in Legrand.

Camaieu announced Wednesday results in net decrease in 2009 but said he observed an improvement trend in the last semester.

Veolia said in a statement that the new boss of EDF, Henri Proglio, leaving the presidency of the board of directors. His replacement has yet not been identified.

A few days before the European Council of Heads of State and Government, the Capitals still do not seem to agree about assisting in Greece. Germany, especially, would like to avoid paying a penny in troubled countries. The latest statements by Angela Merkel appeared to go in that instant payday loans . Using the International Monetary Fund would include not putting his hand in his pocket, implies Berlin. Others, like France, believe that IMF intervention would reflect the inability of the eurozone to deal with its internal problems. The situation today in computer graphics

When prey is, UFC Que Choisir not let go. Just weeks after a complaint filed against the provider of Internet access (ISP) Free to improper billing of the hotline, the association of consumer advocacy attack again for collective redress "many and various unfair and unlawful" .

The UFC has assigned the Free interim High Court of Paris as part of an accelerated procedure. A decision motivated by complaints from several consumers who feel cheated by the rules of subscription and advertising provider. As the class action (editor's note: class actions in the courts) are impossible in France, is in his own name as the association claims 535,000 euros in damages.If Free is considered in the light of competition law, this amount could rise to 96 million, or 10% of the turnover of the company.

Unfair

Among the problems raised by clients and accepted by UFC, several relate to the conditions of sale. It is alleged the ISP to pre-check the option "Service Plus" in the subscription forms online so that this option costs EUR 9.99 per month. Worse, this addition does not appear in the sum total of the subscription rises to 39.98 euros per month and not 29.99 as stated. UFC has also criticized Free to impose a payment by debit to its subscribers. If they refuse, they are forced to pay a deposit of 400 euros to pay 4 euros per month extra.

And if the customer decides to cancel his subscription, it will take a period of one month instead of 10 days imposed by the Chatel Act. In addition, he must pay 96 euros less than 3 euros a month old. A change of address or request new equipment redo the note up to 96 euros automatically. "These practices are harmful. Free communicates on a price ceiling that is actually a floor price. Customers are direct victims, "indignant Catalina Chatellier, a lawyer specializing in new technologies at UFC Que Choisir.

Moreover, the association called for an end to the advertising campaign suggesting that provider with Free, the customer has all-inclusive. UFC said that in the ? 29.99 that it cost to subscribe, like all other ISPs, calls to mobiles and special numbers are not included. Advertising can be misinterpreted.Similarly, the joint venture on so-called exclusive services actually are not as fast-Fi or parental control software.

"Most ISPs have policies effective sales and marketing as they come to pass in a few seconds a message of clarity and simplicity to consumers who actually is not," said Master Yann Lorang, Attorney at Law, Jakubowicz Mallet-Guy and Associates. "Today the drafting of terms of business of selling has become an art in that it must juggle the provisions protecting consumers while preserving the relationship of trust – and thus the imperative of return – between the operator and its customers, "said the lawyer.

Asked about the issue, Free declined to give his version."We do not comment on subpoenas in general and that it no longer," said a terse email from the Communications Department Iliad, the parent of Free.

History

Free is not his first assignment in the courts. Already in 2006, UFC Que Choisir had complained to protest the excessive taxation of calls to the hotline. In 2007, the ISP was forced to appeal a court decision sentencing him to repay three customers and remitted to the association 20 000 in damages for the same problem.

Last October, UFC Que Choisir was again to report a complaint hotline maintained an unfair price by 34 cents the minutes despite complaints. In November, the legal troubles continue with a historic decision of the Court of Cassation.This gave reason to a customer who complained Free to pay its entire supply Triplay (Internet, telephony and television) as he received no television. The court noted that the supplier is under an obligation of result when the services it offers. A decision should set a precedent.

Criticized for its lack of goodwill in the implementation of court decisions, Free found himself back on the wall. UFC Que Choisir hopes this time change its behavior. "They have everything to gain by giving a better image of themselves," says Catalina Chatellier.

More broadly, the decision to be taken following the hearing on March 9 should have a wider scope in the world of ISP. "Only the actions of this kind, not the individual claims mediators, can alter these contracts to more equality and fairness," said the lawyer Yann Lorang.

For Free, which should be awarded the fourth license at the end of the year, the new ads come in any involuntary case to a very bad time.

Euro Disney reported Thursday its results in its financial year end of September. The net loss after minority interests of Euro Disney appears to 55.5 million euros against a loss of 2.8 million a year ago. Revenues fell 7% to 1.23 billion. Despite a record attendance of 15.4 million people (against 15.3 million a year earlier) through new promotions, visitor expenditures were lower because of the crisis. Thus, the rate of hotel occupancy fell amounting to 87%, which has affected sales. In the statement, Philippe Gas, chairman of Euro Disney, said that the exercise "has been marked by the economic environment more difficult in our history."

Report of several payments

Under the exercise, the group has not met its predetermined performance goals.He has deferred some debt payments subject to long term as the 25 million of license fees due to TWDC and the 15.1 million euros of interest due to the Deposit and Consignment. It also plans to defer the payment of an additional $ 5.1 million of interest due to the CDC during the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

The operators do not like. The title plunges 10.17% at 5.30 euros to 10.10 am. They fear that the company does not have sufficient cash to repay its debts.