International Headlines and Stories

 

These are the first quarterly figures for Mariano Rajoy, and they mark new records. 24.44% of the Spanish working population is unemployed, according to the survey of the National Statistics Institute (INE), the most comprehensive report on the subject. To find such a high percentage, we must go back to 1994. As for the number of unemployed, 5,639,500, it is unprecedented.

The detailed figures are even more dramatic. Youth unemployment has surpassed the psychological half: 52.01% of those under age 25 seeking employment. More than 1, 7 million households survive without one family member has a job. A disturbing figure, in a country where family solidarity is one of the few buoys that are still resisting the crisis.

Degradation of S & P

The increase in the unemployment rate from 22.85 to 24.44% coincides with the entry into force on 12 February, the reform of labor law prepared by the Conservative government. A set of measures that flexibilisent working conditions facilitating dismissals on behalf of … the fight against unemployment.

The deteriorating labor market could lead to further abuses. "Having one in four unemployed will increase our deficit and debt," warns Alberto Pastor, professor of economics at IESE Business School. And conversely, "the achievement of deficit targets necessarily require additional austerity measures likely to deepen the recession and therefore further deteriorate the labor market," says Jesús Castillo, Natixis. A downward spiral.

Standard & Poor's, meanwhile, did not wait for the unemployment figures to punish Spain. By Thursday evening, the agency lowered its rating two notches, from A to BBB +. A decision justified by three reasons: the economic downturn, the difficulties in reducing deficits and fears about the fragility of Spanish banks.

For despite a process of concentration and recapitalization, financial sector remains a concern. Most Spanish economists exclude the possibility of a global rescue plan. They did not rule on the other hand a refinance outside banks. "Some will be forced to appeal to European funds," and believes Santiago Nino Becerra know, professor of economics at the Ramon Llull University in Barcelona.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Economy, Luis de Guindos, admitted that Spain was "perhaps one of the hardest moments for its economy." The government does provide an out of recession next year, a return to growth in 2014 and the balance of public accounts in 2016.

The Italian Treasury has borrowed this Friday 5.95 billion euros in the medium and long term testing at an auction. The operation went well. Borrowing costs are still rising at 5.84% to 4.86% and ten years to five years, but the offer has been fully covered. "The numbers are correct. At least, there is no bad news, "said Michael Leister, rate strategist for DZ Bank. Borrowing costs in Italy have averaged 5.61% since the beginning of the year.

Secondary market, the yield spread between ten-year Italian paper and paper German reference widened by only one point e basis, to 4.08%.

ALSO READ:

"The crisis in Spain repels immigrants

"Spain – areas under surveillance

The paycheck advance market has exploded recently and anyone over the age of 18, with a job, a nominal income, and a bank account can take advantage of one of these quick cash personal loans.

 

Jerome Chartier is UMP, a member of the Finance Committee.

LE FIGARO. – You've looked at the cost of the quinquennium. What is your assessment of this work?

Jerome Chartier. – We have a collective duty: a constant reminder that the expenses that shall be implemented after the presidential election will still have a fiscal impact after fifty years. Nicolas Sarkozy has not inherited a country virgin 30 years of debt! For example, we still have not finished paying the bill for 150,000 additional officers hired by Francois Mitterrand in 1981 and will continue to assume in the budget settlement of their pension for many years yet. A majority of the degradation of our deficit since 2007 is related to the consequences of decisions taken ten years or thirty years ago, and nobody can deny. Today, when Francois Hollande speaks to hire 60,000 more teachers, it is not an expense for five years only, to 2.5 billion euros as encrypted in its assessment. They would be hired for forty-two years, and it will then pay for their retirement. It is actually 120 billion euros of financial liabilities would weigh substantially on warrants after 2017. That's what a discourse of truth budget. And the deafening silence of Francois Hollande on this reality weighs heavily in his campaign.

Ultimately, what is the cost of this five year period?

In a book dependent, two journalists were obviously looking for a slogan, a five-year 500 billion-and then tried to justify it. This method of working alone demonstrates the total lack of seriousness with which we entered this debate. This hoax has fizzled. The Court of Auditors, in particular, has brought back to reality, which recalls that sum more than half (52%) of the current deficit is a direct legacy of past decisions. She also said that the crisis explains almost 40% of our deficit, to the extent that it has reduced our revenues sharply by almost 50 billion euros in 2009. It has spawned at the same time, like all European countries, the exceptional increase our spending in 2009 and 2010 from 46 billion to protect the French and preserve their jobs guaranteed approval cash loans.

The government's choice to do so would contribute 10% to deterioration

.

The reality is that ever a term of five years had produced so few new unfunded expenses. The economist Henry Sterdyniak, department director at the OFCE, says the same thing. A study just published it is very clear in late 2006 to late 2012, the French public debt would increase by 620 billion euros. It breaks up this way: 275 billion from interest payments, 310 billion from the economic crisis, including 30 billion stimulus policies implemented in 2009-2010, and 60 billion of tax reduction policies some of which are directly related to the crisis. He adds, and it is rare to be said, that the restrictive policies of public spending (fewer officials, non-revaluation of wages, rigorous management of social benefits …) allowed the other hand save 55 billion euros. Conclusion-and it's not me saying it-the responsibility of head of state and government in creating the deficit is greatly reduced at best to 35 billion euros. For the record, it was exactly the estimated cost of the program of the candidate in 2007! And no one can suspect of belonging to Henry Sterdyniak the campaign team of Nicolas Sarkozy.

How do you respond to those who tell you that it is 35 billion too?

35 billion that is exactly the amount of large loan, which finances the structure of French growth in the future, and promises of jobs that go with. Rarely has a presidential term has been provided the opportunity to invest in the future: higher education, research, attractiveness for industrial relocation with the removal of business tax, pension reform … Many of the decisions taken were not included in the 2007 program and the direct result of the crisis. The French now believe that they are healthy decisions for the future of France.

ALSO READ:

"Low wages: the idea of ​​Sarkozy under scrutiny

"The proposals of the president candidate shock

 

After a difficult 2009, craftsmen and traders have redressed the head in 2010. According to the Federation approved management centers (FCGA), who analyzed 77 occupations in 11 industries, their average turnover increased by 0.9% this year to reach 249,500 euros and operating profit of 2.1%, to 34,280 euros. But all does not show the same performance. The craftsmen in the building went through a dark period, while five sectors did better than others.

Topping the growth of sales, services are needed in the lead with a 3.3% increase (120,700 euros) through real estate agencies whose activities (167,000 euros) recorded the largest increase ( 11%) of 77 occupations analyzed.

Transportation come next, with 3.2% for an average turnover of 116,000 euros. Freight carriers get the best improvements, with an increase of 3.5% of sales (174,000 euros). But only 34% of them give off an income above 26,000 euros cash advance. The paramedics are doing well, with a turnover (395,000 euros) up 3.4%. Two-thirds of them emit a higher operating profit at 39000 euros.

In coffee shops, hotels (2.9%), the pancake houses boast the highest growth with 6% for sales (162,300 euros) and earnings (35,855 euros) in improvement of 9.1% . The breweries were up 4.3%, 3.1% of the pizzerias and hotels by 3.2%.

In automotive (+2.9%), body builders have a turnover (257,600 euros), up 5.2%. But independent stations showed a fall of 5.1% of their earnings. In health care, pharmacists have reached the highest earnings of 77 occupations, with 125,260 euros for an average turnover of 1,423,500 euros. Opticians have improved by 5.8% their earnings, which reached almost 70,000 euros for a turnover of 334,400 euros. Dental technicians have improved their earnings (47,340 euros) only 1.1%.

 

The liquidation of the company SeaFrance Channel whets the appetites of competing operators. The subsidiary of SNCF had indeed a great market share and operating three of the ten vessels that supplied the Calais-Dover.

Now provides a new ferry crossing. Friday, the "Norman Spirit", which can carry 710 cars and 1,100 passengers, has completed its first run between Calais and Dover. It is chartered by the consortium Louis-Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA)-DFDS. The financing package for the joint venture "is not yet completed and may change," said LDA.

Initially, the "Norman Spirit" had strengthened the Dunkerque-Dover DFDS, opened in 2004. He now will leave Calais, where the crossing is the shortest – a port that is far refused to DFDS and LDA. The first company operates trains north (Dunkirk, Amsterdam). The second is present in the south, with Le Havre and Dieppe, and had tried unsuccessfully to revive the line Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dover, 2009.

There would be room for everyone

Leader on the Calais-Dover, P & O operates seven vessels, sixty trips daily, and has recently invested 360 million euros in two superferries, which have been commissioned. The first, the "Spirit of Britain", was launched over a year ago, the second in early February no fax pay day loan. Each ferry can carry 1,059 cars or 180 trucks and 200 cars.

Crisis requires SeaFrance, P & O had postponed the shutdown of ferries replaced by these vessels. The company admits to being "in an observation period with respect to competition," while observing that studies of the expansion of the port of Calais "forecast an increase of traffic in the coming years." So there would be room for everyone.

For its part, Eurotunnel, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, plays spoilsport in the sea. The company has announced its interest in obtaining the three SeaFrance ferries. Eurotunnel would lease a second time to the workers' cooperative (scop) that plan to launch the elders of the CFDT-sea SeaFrance. "We are not in the context of a coup, says Fabienne Lissak, director of communications. The elders of SeaFrance have maritime skills: we absolutely need them, our ferry business from scratch. "

ALSO READ:

"Only 90 employees of SeaFrance seduced by the SNCF plan

"SeaFrance: cessation of activity delivered

"SeaFrance: Eurotunnel wants to buy three boats

The markets are down conviction Thursday. The CAC 40 fell by more than 2% in early trade then turned around, earning up to 1% in the morning. But mid-term is a reluctance to wait still dominates, the benchmark index of the Paris Bourse advancing 0.8% to 3099.48 points. The day before, the CAC 40 lost 2.17% to below 3100 points.

As on Wall Street and Asian stock markets, doubt seized investors, who are now considering the worst: a contagion of debt in the eurozone. With the center of these concerns, the situation in Italy, including the implementation of austerity measures remains uncertain. The announcement yesterday of the upcoming departure of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has in fact added to the uncertainty, as evidenced by soaring rates in ten years the Italian Treasury payday loan.Interest rates at one year paid by the Italian Treasury this morning reached a new record during a test program.

The concerns of the operators in the financial markets move increasingly towards France. This morning, the rates of French government bonds to ten years has exceeded 3.30%.

Unison concerns of investors, Brussels found the Italian debt situation "very worrying". Ditto for the International Monetary Fund: its director Christine Lagarde said today that "lack of political clarity" in Italy supplied the uncertainties, according to Reuters.

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.

Essilor International is innovative. According to the global glasses, "75% of wearers expect an anti-fog solution." To meet this demand, the group decided to create anti-fog lenses under the name of Optifog. This new "represents a disruptive technology," with a "layer with hydrophilic properties," said Essilor. With this new product, which is "all continents", Essilor International is "1.2 billion consumers worldwide."

Results aside, the mood is set fair. The group recorded the first half revenues up 6.9% to 2.06 billion euros and net profit up 30.7% to 258.2 million euros. Adjusted net income per share was 1.25 euro, up 9.3%.

Essilor attributed these results to the "increase in volumes related to the expansion strategy in high growth markets, the rapid development of the supply in the mid-range" and the "growth of industrial investment."

Context "increasingly uncertain"

These performances allow the group to maintain its growth objectives in sales "between 6% and 8%" (excluding currency and acquisitions, strategic) for this year, despite "an economic environment more uncertain." Essilor also wants to maintain the high level of profitability, excluding strategic acquisitions.

The specialist in ophthalmic optics says it "will continue to rely on innovation, operational efficiency and financial capacity to consolidate its position in the high end."The group also intends to "continue its conquest in the mid-range and benefit from the rapid expansion of high-growth countries."

At the Paris Bourse, this news is greeted coldly. In early trade, the title Essilor loses 0.11% to 53.07 euros in a market down 0.05%.

ALSO READ:

"Essilor: Xavier Fontanet gives his chair to chair

After a week marked by sharp declines, Asian stock markets leave forward cautiously. Investors remain troubled by the prospect of a new economic recession in the world. As such, they are waiting with some excitement the second estimate of GDP of the United States on Friday and the president's speech to the U.S. central bank, Ben Bernanke. The markets expect the Fed printing money stimulus to boost the economy.

The Nikkei in Tokyo Stock Exchange is 0.58% at 8677.94 points, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong gained 0.56% to 19,596.30 points and the Shanghai CSI 300 rose 0.69% to 2796.99 points.

On the other Asian financial centers, the increase is much greater: the Taiwan TAIEX climbed 2.24% to 7476.41 points, the Kospi index in Seoul wins up 3.22% to 1765.76 points, S & P / ASX 200 gained 1.63% to 4148.80 points.Only the Bombay Stock Exchange fell slightly from 0.31% to 16,291 points.

Oil prices were careful Tuesday morning during electronic trading in Asia, in a market sensitive to developments in Libya, oil-producing country, where the rebels claim victory, while supporters of the regime say they are still in control. In morning trading, a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for October delivery fell by 2 cents to 108.34 dollars, after losing 18 cents in early trade. A barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in October gained 27 cents 84.69 dollars.

Gold crossed for the first time in its history on Tuesday morning a new record of more than 1,900 dollars per ounce during trading in Hong Kong. The ounce of gold was worth 1914.50 / 1915.50 dollars, after opening at 1.898/1.899 dollars.The yellow metal continues to grow for several days, attracting investors worried about the health of the global economy, the debt crisis in the euro area and geopolitical uncertainties in the Arab world.

A day back in the middle of August. Nicolas Sarkozy will be in Paris today for lunch with François Fillon, then to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, herself back from vacation.

At a time when the euro area is attacked, France and Germany are trying to show a united front and show their determination to end the crisis. The mini-summit will be devoted to devising solutions to improve the governance of the euro area, which concern failures in financial markets. Although not conclusive a priori – "do not expect anything spectacular," said a spokesman yesterday the German government – the meeting should enable the two leaders to lay the groundwork for the future.

Sensitivity of the issue Eurobonds will however not address, contrary to the hopes markets.Berlin's opposition to the creation of common obligations to countries in the euro area has long been known. The Merkel government has good reason to be against: issued in the name of all countries, eurobonds have an interest rate equal to the average rate in effect in all countries. It would therefore be higher than that which currently takes Berlin. Until now, France is merely to show little enthusiasm for these Eurobonds.

Yesterday, Paris is out of the woods to show his unity with his partner. "The Euro-bonds are not an adequate response today. Common issue bonds requires a degree of economic integration and budgetary countries that we have not met, "says one as president fast cash. Paris joins Berlin on another "nyet" to increase the capacity of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), now with 440 billion euros."The level of funding is appropriate," they say at the Elysee.

Hours before his meeting with Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy has discussed with Francois Fillon and French public finances. Lead to disappointing growth, the government has no choice: even a few months before the elections, it must take further austerity measures. France, which is followed closely by the markets, absolutely must bring its deficit to 4.6% of GDP in 2012.

Niche in their sights

To achieve this, taking into account a sluggish economy, the figure of 10 billion euros of savings is often cited. But do not confirm Bercy. In the entourage of Valérie Pécresse, the budget minister, it says only that "these savings are the result of efforts on spending cuts and tax loopholes."Last week, he had urged his counterparts from the euro area to take all necessary measures, including the creation of Euro-bonds, to avoid disintegration of the single currency "that would be an economic catastrophe, including for the United Kingdom ".

ALSO READ:

"SPECIAL – Depression, fear of debt

"Merkel faces a sharp political debate in Germany

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.

ALSO READ:

"FILE – Why do I relocate?

"Genevieve Lethu: quality enhancement French