International Headlines and Stories

The French plébiscitent increasing the "Made in France" and it has not escaped the business. A craze that falls well: rising transportation costs and wage inflation from 15% to 20% in some coastal factories in China are converging today to encourage repatriation of some production lines to France and Europe. But if some companies are beginning to consider such a policy change, few are still those who skip it.

"There is clearly more interesting now than to relocate whole or in part," says Jean-Luc Fonteneau, a partner in the consulting firm Diagma logistics. "But do not mistake: these factors on their own are not sufficient to stimulate a significant movement of relocations. For now, our customers are content to talk about it.The cost differential is still largely in favor of Asia, "said he.

Geneviève Lethu, Rossignol, Decathlon or Meccano, who chose to relocate all or part of their production in recent years, rather figures are therefore exceptions. Geneviève Lethu for example, production costs remain two to three times higher in France than in Southeast Asia, says Edmond Kassapian, its CEO. The company has nevertheless chosen to relocation, mainly to improve the quality of its products.

In this context, the rise in commodity prices and wage inflation in recent months weigh little. "In textiles, for example, transportation is only 5% to 10% of the production cost of an item.As for wage increases, even if the percentages are impressive, they represent less than 3% of payroll French, "Jean-Luc Fonteneau calculated. Some companies also try to compensate by shifting their production to Vietnam …, the consultant observed.

Automation

The figures confirm this analysis. According to a recent study by two economists at the University of Poitiers, Liliane Bonnal Olivier Bouba-Olga and the relocations to France remain marginal effect cash advance now. Based on data reported by the Centre for Investment in 2008 and 2009, economists have identified all the operations of investment and divestment activity in France. Relocations represent only 0.3% of these operations, 24 cases in two years.In total, they recorded a relocation to six relocations, and a job created for 30 jobs lost because of offshoring. "Only 500 jobs were created in two years because of relocations," says Olivier Bouba-Olga.

Because they "do not result in any case not by major job creation," said El Mouhoub Mouhoud, an economist at Paris Dauphine University and author of "Globalization and offshoring of business" by Editions la Découverte. In most cases, they are indeed driven by companies that have chosen to automate their production. "So that the jobs lost in Southeast Asia and elsewhere are almost never compensated in France," the judge economist.

The marginal nature of the relocation is also reflected in the lack of excitement generated by government schemes to encourage them."The tax credit for relocating business established in 2007 has hardly ever been used," says El Mouhoub Mouhoud. As for the relocation bonus, with a budget of 200 million euros and announced with great fanfare in the aftermath of the States General of Industry, it is simply more. "The premium has been recast in within a broader, that of using the re-industrialization," says one to the Ministry of Industry. The latter has only 20 million euros. If "the world's factory" that is China is losing some ground, France did for the moment that gets a few scraps.

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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 Minister of Finance of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda, confirmed the government's desire to Naoto Kan to resign by the end of the summer. Asked this morning on the casting vote of a law allowing Tokyo to issue bonds to cover the budget deficit, the Treasury official said the Japanese team in place "take responsibility". The day before, Minister of Commerce Banri Kaieda had entrusted his intention to retire after the adoption of the famous law by the Parliament met until the end of August, adding that other ministers "may have the same intentions." The current government believes that the next budget will not be held if the law does not low fee pay day loans.

Finance Minister this morning held a press conference to present the trade figures. Japan's current account surplus fell 51.7% in May to 7.3 billion, compared to the previous year.A drop weaker than economists' forecasts, which expect a recovery in the economy, hard hit by the earthquake of March 11, faster than expected. Many Japanese factories have been forced to suspend production due to damaged sites and disruptions in electricity supplies. But exports could rebound in the coming months.

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Christian Noyer confirmed and signed. Any restructuring of the debt would be treated as a failure on the part of Greece is absolutely unacceptable. Because it would then "get ready to fully finance the Greek economy", stressed on Tuesday the governor of the Bank of France, who presented to the press his 2010 annual report.

It is the "horror scenario" that he had already detailed there are just three weeks. On the one hand, Greek banks are primarily affected by a rescheduling of the debt that they are the largest holders, and they could then refinance with more of the ECB.And secondly, the Athens government would certainly lean its financial charges, but since it currently has a primary deficit (excluding payment of the debt burden) of about 5% of GDP, could no longer borrow and wheat would be unable to finance its current spending, including salaries.

"If a solution can be found that avoids the risk of default, it seems appropriate," said the governor added, however, without specifying what he himself described as "acceptable business solution paperless payday loans." For his part, Jean-Claude Trichet, ECB president, said Monday that "the debt restructuring should be voluntary (from creditors). In this case is avoided because a "credit event" and "default." This solution was implemented in 2009 in favor of Hungary, under the IMF.But, as recalled an institutional manager, "was technically easy because it was bank loans held by half a dozen operators, while for Greece hundreds of investors are concerned."

"Our only concern is the financing of the Greek economy. You can add a second concern is the risk of contagion, "says Christian Noyer, referring implicitly to the earthquake in September 2008 had triggered the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. "But this has nothing to do with our own balance sheet (the ECB has purchased a fifty billion of debt securities Greek, Ed) nor with that of European banks who are perfectly capable of handling all the scenarios that could present, "insisted the gouverneur.f

"It's a relief." With these words Edouard Boccon-Gibod, head of production hub for the TF1 group, hosted a few minutes ago the ruling of the Court of Appeal of Versailles, which judged the dispute between TF1 and the 56 candidates the program "Island of temptation."

The Court condemned this morning TF1 requalify in standard employment contract involving 56 candidates who participated in the game of reality between 2003 and 2007. According to lawyers for the plaintiffs and chain, TF1 will have to pay sums of between 15,000 and 17,000 euros for each of them. Which is significantly lower than originally demanded candidates.

Indeed, the latter pleaded damages of between 400 and 600,000 euros per candidate."This is nothing compared to 1.25 billion euros in advertising revenue that relates the reality," had estimated in January, their lawyer, Maître Assous, stating that his clients were "to a producer 24 during 24 hours 12 to 17 days of filming. "

1400 euros per day of filming

But, as pointed Edouard Boccon-Gibod, president of TF1 Production, "neither their status nor the performer crime of clandestine work has been recognized by the Court low fee cash advance. The latter simply states the recognition of the employment contract and requires a reminder of the wages, what we had largely anticipated, "he says. One of the plaintiffs initiated this procedure had finally retired after having reached an amicable agreement with the chain.

"The court recognized the existence of an employment contract.It granted the payment of overtime, severance pay, welcomed his side Assous Master. The amount required by the Court "is an average of 1400 euros per day of shooting, multiplied by twenty shooting days old on average and 1,400 candidates for reality shows, this gives a total of nearly 39 million euros," said he added. "This is a victory which, again, permanently, to consider that participants from reality TV shows are employees of the production company."

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The amount is staggering. $ 70 billion social aid were announced by King Abdallah live on Saudi television on Friday. Therefore a figure for the 28 million inhabitants of the country, one third of the unemployed are young people aged 21 to 29.

The monarch has promised minimum wage increase to 800 dollars, the increase in premiums for unemployment up to 250 dollars, a premium of two months salary for each employee and a bonus of two months for student scholarships . But nearly $ 67 billion aid plan – almost all of the assistants will be devoted to the allocation of funds for the construction of 500,000 housing units across the country, and an envelope for the health sector. King Abdullah has proposed to inject more money into home loans by increasing to $ 128,000.

These injections of public funds came after the unprecedented announcement by the King on February 23 of a first action plan of 36 billion dollars. They should help diverdifier the Saudi economy, largely dependent on oil revenues.

Further monitoring

In his televised speech of three minutes, the sovereign has also announced the creation of a committee to fight against corruption, which will be under his supervision and could control all branches of government faxless cash advances. He also mentioned the creation of 60,000 new jobs security by ensuring that security forces will be ready to respond to "all those who intend to undermine 'the kingdom.

Fearing social unrest that the country earns from Bahrain, a neighboring country, where violent clashes between Shi'ite demonstrators and security forces took place this week, security forces were deployed en masse on March 11 in Riyadh, and in the eastern provinces, home to a strong Shiite community. However, according to some sources, the stability of autocratic rule of King Abdullah, from a prominent Sunni family, is not likely to be unshaken.

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A few months before the end of his term – and then she is a candidate to succeed himself – Anne Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva, on Thursday presented the annual results scrutinized by the market. The year 2010 the French group is the world leader in nuclear contrast: while the net profit group share jumped over 60%, but this performance is largely attributable to the gain of 1.3 billion euros performed on the occasion of the sale of the transmission and distribution – divided between Alstom and Schneider.

But the operating profit shown in the red for the first time since the group's inception in 2001: the loss stood at 423 million euros, against a gain of 97 million in 2009.Two factors explain these difficulties: firstly, the delicate construction of the EPR in Finland, which required an additional provision of 367 million euros, on the other hand, the depreciation of mining assets of the group, s' has resulted in a provision of 426 million euros. All these provisions have been recorded in the first half of 2010, but in the case of mines, however, adding it took 126 million euros.

The – many – who oppose the reappointment of Anne Lauvergeon not fail to exploit the operating loss. Signs in their eyes, the president of Areva hard to conduct large-scale projects, even though the French nuclear industry seeks to invest in many markets abroad.Meanwhile, his opponents regularly stigmatize a deteriorated relationship with EDF, its partner of choice.

Backlog

In the camp of Anne Lauvergeon, the interpretation of the situation is obviously different. The CEO of Areva does not mask a "structurally difficult period, marked by a lot of investment, construction of a range of reactors and the scheduled end of the activity Eurodif (the uranium enrichment plant located in the Rhone Valley). " But she said the course and completed the transformation carried out since 2001. Enough to create, insists the president a lame duck, "a dynamic in which the group will soon reap the benefits.

Anne Lauvergeon underlines the progress of the order book for 2012 with the dual purpose of a turnover of 12 billion euros and an operating margin in double digits.In addition, a new order of the reactors is expected in the coming months, "in a country other than China or India."

Regarding the relationship with EDF, Anne Lauvergeon welcomes the conclusions of the last nuclear policy, "which has normalized the situation." The fact that the EPR is built in the reference product of the French sector and the lack of fundamental questioning of the integrated model of Areva underpin about the president's nuclear group. She is delighted that finally work towards the rebuilding of a great strategic partnership with EDF "progressing well". In charge now for the woman to win the battle for its renewal. She looks extremely tight.

Deprived of power in Egypt, Hosni Mubarak could soon be as his property. Barely half an hour after the announcement of the resignation of the Pharaoh, or at 17:30 on Friday, the Swiss government announced it was blocking all funds that may belong to the Egyptian president and his family in Switzerland. The Federal Council has issued an order to that effect asking the Swiss banks to search for and freeze the assets of the clan Mubarak. According to the Swiss National Bank in late 2009, the Egyptian deposits on accounts in Switzerland reached 3.6 billion Swiss francs (2.27 billion euros).

"President Hosni Mubarak has resigned today after weeks of mass protests. The Federal Council took note of this evolving situation, "it said in the text.The assets of Mubarak and his entourage were blocked with "immediate effect" and the order is "valid for three years," says the Federal Council. "In addition, the sale and disposal of assets – including property – belonging to such persons are prohibited. The Federal Council intends to take all necessary measures to prevent any possible misuse of public funds. "

London wants action "concerted"

For its part, the British Minister of Trade, Vince Cable, said Sunday that any assets held abroad by Egyptian President should be a "concerted international action." "I did not know he had huge assets here, but we have no doubt that there is an international action on this issue," he told the BBC1 channel, in response to a question about the possible presence of some of these assets in the United Kingdom, raised by the local press."It makes no sense for a government to act alone, but we must look into the matter payday loan. It also depends on how these assets were acquired, "added the minister.

Vince Cable has also warned that British banks the government would take action against any institution that would help the former Egyptian president to transfer funds. "One of the tasks which the Government has been working since coming to power is to terminate the operations of tax evasion on behalf of their clients, companies or individuals," he argues.

Between 40 and 70 billion

According to experts cited in the Middle East by the British newspaper Guardian, the Mubarak family fortune is estimated at between 40 and 70 billion dollars (29.5 and 51.7 billion euros).It would be divided as such: $ 15 billion for Hosni Mubarak, one billion to his wife Suzanne, eight billion for his eldest son, Alaa, and 17 billion for his second son, Gamal. By comparison, the couple's Ben Ali is estimated at five billion dollars, as ranked by Forbes magazine. And that of the richest man in the United States, Bill Gates, to 54 billion.

The Algerian newspaper Al Khabarprécise his side much of the wealth of Mubarak would be deposited in banks or invested in real estate. The Mubarak family would own and outside of Egypt, properties in the United States, Great Britain (whose son and mother hold the nationality), France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Dubai .Finally, two son, Gamal and Alaa created and taken stakes in many companies in Europe and the United States.

(With agencies)

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Paris Has it been too sure of his strength? There is just one more year, the possibility of relocation was seen as a joke by the City Council. At the point of not meeting the requirements of the French Tennis Federation, eager to expand the site of Roland Garros in order to accommodate the public, partners and media in better conditions, and to demand a fee from astronomical 2016 (the current lease expires in 2015). "There is a Roland Garros. There is no other. It will be more if it leaves Roland Garros Paris. The love story between Roland Garros and tennis is necessarily the Porte d'Auteuil, on the current site (…) I'm really a city tour to the suburbs but frankly what belongs to Paris is Paris.Roland Garros as the Eiffel Tower is part of Paris, has just recently told Jean Vuillermoz, Deputy Mayor of Paris, in charge of sport in a whiff of superiority. Faced with this situation, the TFF has decided to react by putting Paris in competition.

A hotly contested competition
A bluff? Initially judged as such, the call for entries is taken very seriously. Three suburban sites are then selected to host Roland Garros: Versailles, Marne-la-Vallée and Gonesse. The quality of records that are pushing the proposed FFT to seriously consider a move. "Attitudes have indeed changed," admitted the director Roland Garros Gilbert Ysern, whom we asked last November.Under pressure, the Mayor of Paris reacts through Bertrand Delanoe, who tabled a "vow on the development of the Tournament of Roland Garros in Paris" fulfilling all the wishes of the original Federation. Extending the area of 60% (5 hectares), covering the Central, the construction of a new 5,000-seat stadium, a new concession for a period of 99 years and a charge down the figure indexed business.

An eminently strategic
By choosing to stay in Paris, the FFT would be the choice of conservatism. A choice of heart more than reason? So says Hervé Dupont, executive director of the Plaine de France, holder of record of Gonesse."Either the Federation made the strategic choice to remain in Paris for convenience, for fear of change, because it costs him a little cheaper … Either it moves and in this case we believe we have the best project." Leaving the historic site Auteuil would especially at Roland Garros to catch up and even take the lead, on the other Grand Slam tournaments (Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open) in terms of area (over 30 hectares). Pragmatic, Guy Forget is rather favorable to offshoring.

An opinion that disagrees obviously not John Vuillermoz: "Is that what is important is the space, the number of acres? Does the importance of this tournament is not elsewhere? The goal is to get better. There will be an opening to a new space, a new short 5,000 seats. A lawn will replace the short No. 1, which is not beautiful.This will allow spectators to picnic before a large screen that will broadcast all the matches. This is what will stay at Roland Garros in its box, while remaining accessible to the greatest number. This is not just about square meters. "

Dissension
Unlike Gonesse and Marne-la-Vallee, where the political will to welcome Roland Garros is unanimous, the case of Paris, like that of Versailles, is facing some dissension. "We are a democracy, everyone can express themselves. You say there is no opposition would not be true.Now, democracy is majority and in this context, the Paris council has spoken: 12 councilors voted against and 141 voted for! After the Greens, who voted against the Olympic Games in Paris, which are against the top-level sport in Paris and that the residents of the Porte d'Auteuil want to stay together and not to involve the mass is their problem … But the great mass of the Parisians is favorable. All the polls show, "says Jean Vuillermoz, reminding us that Paris can count on support from the weight, partners and sponsors.

Sponsor support historical
BNP Paribas, whose brand is associated with at Roland Garros for 37 years, is actually very clear about this: "We support the continuation of the tournament in the capital. We believe that much of the prestige is that it is in central Paris.Whatever the qualities of offshoring projects, they would not have the same influence. "Same story from Alain Afflelou:" Roland Garros is a prestigious tournament that counts a lot in terms of public relations device. Currently, it is easy to reach, it will be more complicated than 35 km … "Favorite, File Paris nonetheless threatened. Not sure he collects 66% of votes of the 195 voters of the Federation for its victory on Sunday. He could well find themselves with ballot Versailles (the most dangerous rival?). The two finalists then the tie would be within three months, an absolute majority, at a new General Assembly …

The Paris plan:

Source: Natixis, based on figures provided by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) cash advance loans.