International Headlines and Stories

In February, the U.S. bank Citigroup has taken to turn control of the record. Prior to announcing its sale in June, immediately arousing the interest of Universal.

Negotiations between the two partners have stumbled on the issue of management of pension costs. The agreement could finally be announced early next week fast cash online. But sources familiar with the FT interviewed by the warning that the agreement can still be challenged by a cons-bid Access Industries, owner of Warner Music.

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The tax is sure to be one of the main themes of the campaign. First question of democracy: the French have always been upset with the tax. This is not new. But now they no longer understand the meaning. Taxpayers do not know why they are not taxed when the money from. They wonder if they are "just" dizzy and taxed at the constant changes in the foot of the state, making our tax system totally unpredictable, unreadable, and therefore ineffective.How many French know they will pay for the first time this year a portion of their housing tax for inter-municipal, that is to say, of municipalities, they know nothing? How many business owners know exactly how much they will pay in lieu of business tax, abolished last year in favor of two new taxes? Reconcile with the citizen taxpayer is more than ever an imperative, when the both of them were again tempted to exile.

Question of economic efficiency then. One can only be struck by the complete lack of fiscal strategy of the Finance Bill 2012, currently under discussion in Parliament. In the eyes of officials of Bercy, the only way to increase tax revenues is to remove the niches or benefits made in the tax calculation.More than half of the 11 billion euros in additional savings are announced in late August and the removal of some old tax benefits. Now that the idea has been fueled largely with public opinion than the 104 billion euros in lost revenue for state coffers that are the fiscal and social niches, half are "very effective" or "inefficient", this solution is actually the easiest to implement. But it can serve as long-term program. As niches, whose real term is "tax expenditure", are as fundamental to encourage private investors to replace the public investor.No niches, no investment in France, which already sorely lacking.

Reform the income tax

The tax reform in 2012 will revolve around three major issues: how to bring balance between taxation of wealth and income? How to get to his income tax progressivity? What future for VAT?

To these questions, the UMP and the PS will provide different answers, of course bad credit payday advance. But the rules are the same for all. France can no longer raise taxes. The tax ratio-mandatory, ie the tax burden, amounted to 44.5% of GDP, close to its historical levels (44.9% in 1999). But conversely, the disastrous situation of public finances prevents them down.The "big bang" will be announced fiscal totally bounded in the universe: it will be a rebalancing in depth, but revenue constant.

Some lines of force emerge. The income tax in its present form, is on trial. Two transformations are emerging: reconsider its progressivity, that is to say goodbye slices. Or merge it with the CSG, an idea that has the favor of PS and a large part of the UMP. This merger should not be mistaken, broaden the tax base, will make the income tax fairer, but will also be more painful for the average incomes.

Similarly, it will not escape a VAT reform. Since 2008, 15 European countries have found, for fiscal consolidation, so much so that the rate of 19.6% French is now among the lowest in the euro area, 1 point lower than the average.Especially down at the other, the government chose to lower it for some sectors (food, building …).

Finally, there is the balance between taxation of income and wealth. The most sensitive issue. Recently, in Le Figaro, the budget minister Valérie Pécresse explained: "By raising taxes on savings, we compare the taxation of wealth from that of labor income." The road has only begun. One can imagine what awaits holders of wealth in the coming years …

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"Taxation: the rules for 2012 take shape

Grisaille Economic ambient softness unusual temperatures have probably induced consumers for caution September. Including their clothing purchases. Consequence: France, sales textile clothing tumbled 10% over same month last year.It French Institute fashion (IFM) which launches the alarm in his last letter Conjunctural.

This falling sales spares no distributor:

-Department stores accuse thus decline sales 7% by value in September versus the same period 2010

-Chains saw sales backward 10%

-Downward turnover is 12% for independent multibrand and 14% Monoprix.

Chez Monoprix we confirms that "weather unfavorable impacted sales" but also justifies this bad news by that September 2010 compared, was excellent months "sales had then effectively climbed 7% "says we the distributor.Postponement a commercial operation christened "The nine days», held last year September but is programmed this year straddling September and October has perhaps helped falling sales recognizes we also Monoprix payday advance lender.

Worst September long …

Side independents multibrand, falling sales was certainly 12% September but segment lingerie posted according IFM the best resistance (+0.3% in value in September).

All distributors confused, sales had started marking time soon summer balances was disappointing for distributors.During the period January-August 2011, they had already declined by 1.7% in value over the same period last year.

The downward trend has clearly intensified in September, which is the worst for the industry for a long time: according to the IFM, clothing sales in France had indeed increased 2% in 2010, which was a good year, after falling 8% in 2009. But climbed 1.2% 2008 and even 8.3% in 2007.

The outlook for the month of October are not provided completely obscured: true, according to Franck Delpal, an economist at the IFM, a slight improvement in weather clothing is not excluded in October, with relapse of temperatures .

Despite the overwhelming vote of the German Bundestag for the second aid package to Greece on Thursday, the race against the clock continues to George Papandreou. She took the look of a marathon: the Greek Prime Minister first met on Friday morning in Warsaw, the European president Hermann Van Rompuy to prepare the summit on 18 October ahead crucial, three months after the July 21, who had devoted a strengthening of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) without convincing the markets.

George Papandreou then went to the Elysee, in the late afternoon for a meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy. He assured the French president that his country was "determined to make every effort" to prevent the collapse of his country and invited experts from the area to go to Athens to see the extent of reforms course.This is one of the main achievements of the meeting on Friday in Paris: "The president urged the Greek prime minister to make it completely transparent with respect to creditor countries," it says in the entourage of Nicolas Sarkozy. In other words, European citizens to prove that Greece was best to keep its objectives. The stakes are high, as evidenced by the reception received by virulent responsible for the Troika (EU, IMF and ECB) income in Athens Friday to assess the process of fiscal consolidation implemented by the government.The officers demonstrated outside the government blocked their access to multiple departments, so that the meeting with the ministers of finance and administration reform took place in anonymous offices in Athens to avoid the challenge.

A moral obligation

These social tensions have led the president to praise the efforts of Greece, in a solemn declaration from the steps of the Elysee low interest personal loan. "The Greek people suffered a lot (…) but he must understand that in recent years too many reforms have been delayed." France will be at his side, he said. "We have a moral obligation to place the member countries of the eurozone and the European Union, said Nicolas Sarkozy.Europe is a civilization, a family and solidarity: when a family, one member is in trouble, all others must help him. "For the president, so" it is no question of dropping the Greek ", because" the failure of Greece would be the failure of the whole of Europe. "

In Paris, we keep tooth and nail to the strict application of the plan voted on July 21. After Germany, Thursday, Austria approved the turn Friday, becoming the twelfth state to say yes to seventeen. European leaders want the agreement to be first adopted by all members – by mid-October – before discussing any possible enhancement of the plan."The question of political credibility," insists there be at the Elysee, where you bet on the fact that financial markets will eventually be convinced that beyond the inevitable slowness of the political process in Europe takes measures appropriate to address the debt crisis.

But this second step could engage quickly Nicolas Sarkozy said he would travel to Berlin in the coming days to meet with German Chancellor in order to "accelerate economic integration in the euro area and put in place as soon as possible "the bailout of the single currency and Greece decided on July 21. This meeting could take place the next weekend.

The Ministry of Labour are fewer social plans. The first half of 2011, recorded 507 Dares backup plans in employment (PSE), according to Les Echos on Wednesday morning. It is 30% less than the first half of 2010 and 60% less than the same period of 2009, where the destruction of jobs reached a record level.

In total, the plans submitted earlier this year targeted the elimination of 25,000 jobs, against 35,000 in the first half of 2010. The stigma of the crisis have not yet been erased: PSE 507 registered in the first half, it's still 40% more than in 2008.

Increase job creation

These figures confirm a trend already highlighted by the INSEE and Dares. The net job creation continued to rise in the first half, despite the uncertainty on growth.126,500 jobs were created in the market sector, a trend that accelerated in the second quarter.

The particular industry, particularly affected by the PSE, recorded in job creation for the first time in ten years. "With the acquisition, the use of overtime in the industry declined, giving way to new hires," Dominique Barbet analysis, economist at BNP Paribas. These new jobs, however, remained insufficient to curb unemployment, increased again in May and June

Substitution effects

The decrease in the number of PES is also to be taken with caution. Part of the ruptures conventional recorded since the scheme in 2008 could indeed have substituted for the redundancies, and thus contribute to an artificially low numbers.The development of off mobility and the increased use of temporary and fixed term contract, could also have played.

With a growth rate in 2011 likely to be less than expected, this downward trend may not otherwise be pursued so as frank. The PMI index released Tuesday by Markit already reveals a contraction of industrial activity in August. Business leaders surveyed this month said a volume of new orders down, the most severe recorded for 27 months. The rate of creation of posts at the highest level in four months, it does not yet felt.

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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.

As seen in Europe with a market recovery, the New York Stock Exchange finished up sharply Tuesday as investors speculating on a similar agreement between Republicans and Democrats to avoid a default of the United States: the Dow Jones gained a , 63% and the Nasdaq 2.22%. The Dow Jones rose 201.32 points to 12,586.48 points and the Nasdaq, dominated by technology, from 61.22 points to 2826.52 points.

The DJ opened up, boosted by a salvo of results of large U.S. companies, mostly better than expected.The increase accelerated after a speech by President Barack Obama suggesting that discussions were progressing toward an agreement to reduce the budget deficit and an increase in the ceiling of the debt of the United States as we approach the deadline of August 2.

The euro rose against the dollar Tuesday, in exchange tinged with caution while the market showed himself optimistic about the outcome of the extraordinary summit of the Greek debt scheduled for Thursday in Brussels. Around 1800 GMT (8:00 p.m. in Paris), the single European currency was worth 1.4177 dollars against 1.4117 dollars around 2100 GMT Monday. The euro rose against the Japanese currency to 111.91 yen against 111.59 yen Monday.

The current oil futures ended up Tuesday, benefiting from a weaker dollar ahead of the summit of the euro area Thursday and hopes of solving the problem of the debt of the United States.On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude for August delivery ended at 97.50 dollars a barrel, up $ 1.57, or 1.64%, having fluctuated between 95.93 and 98.65 dollars.

On the macroeconomic front, investors will be watching especially housing starts and building permits in the United States. Two statistics that mark once.

Values ​​to follow

The side of values, after the close of Wall Street, several major groups have announced their quarterly results.

Pleasant surprise on the side of IBM rose 8% of its profits in the second quarter to 3.66 billion. The adjusted earnings per share was 3.09 dollars against 3.02 dollars expected by analysts. Turnover was up 12% to $ 26.7 billion against $ 25.4 billion expected.Please note, sales of servers rose 17% year on year to 4.7 billion. For the full year, IBM raised its forecast for earnings per share to 13.25 dollars against 13.15 dollars earlier. The title earns 5.67% to 1885.21 dollars.

Always on the side of values, Cisco confirmed the elimination of 6,500 jobs to reduce production costs. The group is facing stiff competition, especially from China, the market for Internet routers. Price reductions are higher expectations. According to IDC, Cisco, which holds 64% market share, experienced a contraction of 16% of its sales of routers in value in the first quarter. The title earns 1.46% to 15.66 dollars.

In addition, the producer of fertilizer Mosaica announced a profit of 649.2 million dollars above expectations of analysts.Turnover was up 54% to $ 2.86 billion and also higher than expectations.Farmers' demand remains strong, particularly in wheat, and weather conditions have supported the group's sales.

For its part, the steel producer, Steel Dynamics (+4.6% to 16.14 dollars) announced a profit of $ 98.7 million and revenue of $ 2.08 billion, all two above expectations.

Also note, MSC Industrial Direct (0.64% to 65.79 dolars) has announced the acquisition of American Tool Supply and its subsidiary American Specialty Grinding without specifying the amount of the transaction.

According to the Financial Times, the fourth group HNA Group Air China would be the favorite to take over the subsidiary of General Electric GE SeaCo.

Moreover, according to Bloomberg AMR Corp (0.41% to 4.93 dollars), the parent of American Airlines, could be divided between Airbus and Boeing single-aisle aircraft order it plans to spend.American Airlines is negotiating with manufacturers for the purchase of more than 250 aircraft.

The American insurance company AIG (0.80% to 27.87 dollars) study the stock market into a stake in its subsidiary, ILFC aircraft leasing, operation that could bring him back from 1.5 to 2 billion, reports the Wall Street Journal Monday.

It is a small operation, but that announcement probably others. By unveiling this morning the acquisition of Chinese Praxis Technology, a small computer services company and consultancy, Capgemini wants to kick off an acceleration of development in emerging countries. For this operation, the SSII makes its first acquisition in the Chinese market, and strengthens the services sector to "utilities" (energy, industry, etc..). Praxis Technology conducted in 2010 about 5 million in sales and employs 110 employees, Capgemini said in a statement, without revealing the amount of the transaction.

The emerging strategic priority

Capgemini has already begun to enter the Chinese market. Still a marginal presence, this area focus less than 5% of its overall activity."Capgemini's ambition to expand in China, the second largest economy, and this organically and through acquisitions," says management. The company hopes to benefit from the strong annual growth of the Chinese IT market (14.1% between 2009 and 2014) business card design. "Given the sustained and rapid economic growth is a priority market," said Gilles Taldu Moreover, new business manager at Capgemini. The acquisition will be financed by net cash and is expected to close soon.

In addition to this acquisition, Capgemini's global strategy looks to emerging markets. In September 2010, the IT services company had already announced the acquisition of CPM Braxis, the leading Brazilian IT services. This speech proactive, and the announcement of the acquisition of Praxis Technology have attracted investors.Especially across the Atlantic, Accenture, Capgemini U.S. competitor announced tonight quarterly results better than expected and raised its profit forecast for 2011. What a glimpse of a more favorable market environment expected. At the Paris Bourse, the title of Capgemini jumped 4.24% to 10.30, the highest increase in the CAC 40 in a market up 1.70%

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The idea of ​​a debt restructuring Greek away. Not that the Greek finances are better, but the idea of ​​establishing a new financial assistance plan to avoid bankruptcy again the country is preferred. A year after the granting of a loan of 110 billion euros, and Europeans should put money on the table … to conditions that Greece itself consents to further efforts.

According to latest information, this aid would be encrypted between 60 and 70 billion euros. The IMF would disburse 10 billion euros and the European Union, 20 billion. Greece, she will find 25 to 30 billion. How? Increasingly advanced the idea of ​​involving the private sector in these efforts. The basic idea is that banks maintain their exposure to Greek debt on a voluntary basis, to prevent capital flight.It argues that Germany: "It is important that the private sector assumes its responsibilities," said-there at the German Ministry of Finance. And the ECB seems to favor this solution. Anyway, this Thursday, Jürgen Stark, member of the ECB executive known for his orthodox positions, said the agency did not rule out this hypothesis.

Fiscal restraint and privatization

Greece and a delegation of the "troika" (European Union, International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank) are still debating. They promised that a statement would be released Friday afternoon. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will deliver when the outline of the new austerity program they have developed.According to sources, the amount will rise to 6.4 billion euros, the price of higher taxes and a revision of tax exemptions on income.

However, nothing is said about the new aid. Jean-Claude Juncker, Eurogroup President, assured that no crisis meeting between finance ministers of the European Union was expected. A decision will be taken "by the end of June."

Adjusted parallel, the country's bluff, has initiated a process of privatization, which will reap 50 billion euros fast cash advance loan. Ports, airports, railways, water from Thessaloniki and Athens, racetracks, telecommunications and the postal bank is the first wave of Greek businesses for sale.A strike call was issued for June 9 to protest against the wave of privatizations.

The euro, "strong and credible"

If the equity markets still lag heavily the shock of the degradation of the note in Greece yesterday (Wednesday), the euro, he continues his way to the rise, settling comfortably above U.S. $ 1.44 (1.4472 at the highest this Thursday). Thus, in the underlying trend, concern about the financial world dominates while the Greek bounces back – and worried – almost every day: today at the Paris Bourse, the CAC 40 plunged more than 1.4 % to 16 hours and Wall Street is struggling to resume after signing its worst session since August 2010.Yesterday, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has confirmed the hypothesis of a new program of assistance to Greece, which the IMF would take part, failing to pay the last part of the initial grant.

But the most volatile foreign exchange market, for sale today are in favor of the euro … and against the dollar. The European currency was primarily driven by reassurances from Jean-Claude Trichet, who said on Thursday in Germany, that "there is no crisis of the euro", and called the currency " strong and credible ". The ECB president has fueled the prospect dune next rate hike. He also suggested the creation of a Ministry of Finance and European imagines that "the European authorities have the right to veto certain decisions of national economic policy."American side, a series of bad economic figures have polmbé the dollar, the euro mechanically pulling upward.

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Photo credits: TF1-CHEVALIN/SIPA/TF1