Business & Financial News

Even before the inauguration of the second Socialist president of the Fifth Republic, the president of MEDEF multiplies the signals conciliatory address.

Laurence Parisot and Francois Hollande said on Friday, already engaged in consultations with European leaders, was right to put the topic of growth on the table.

"We want to work to ensure that as soon as possible our country finds the path of sustained economic growth," she said on RMC and BFM-TV. "We have some impatience to meet the government or the president."

The chairwoman of the main French employers' organization believes, however, should not oppose this issue to that of fiscal discipline, which was one of the axes of attack of the outgoing president Nicolas Sarkozy against Francois Hollande during the presidential campaign.

"Obviously we need, all European countries today, methods, disciplines to manage our budgets," she said.

One position it defended in an interview with Les Echos, in which she wondered, however, also on how to complete the "budget package" signed in January by 25 of the 27 countries of the European Uni ; enemies by a "growth package". 

"We must also ask how to create a confidence shock that would be a growth shock without exacerbating the deficit," said the president of MEDEF. "In other words, we support a growth initiative, a 'compact growth' but not renegotiate the 'tax compact'."

It is in this context a series of proposals – hire a general review of European policies, define priorities in infrastructure to be financed by public-private partnerships or "project bonds" – bonds related to investment programs, etc..

CALL TO THE ECB AND BERLIN

"The chamber is clearly European. We join the call by Jacques Attali and Pascal Lamy for a government and an economic growth of European budget ", says she

……. .. The former collaborator of François Mitterrand and the current Director General of the World Trade Organization are deemed close to the Socialist Party

.. Laurence Parisot ……. Les Echos also develops in any argument that would not have denied the candidate Holland

. "We want Europe to have a clear doctrine and assumed in terms of competitiveness, that is better coordination between monetary policy, fiscal policies and an investment policy that could be decided at EU level, "she said. 

The chamber also wants the European Central Bank "to make sure that the euro is not so high against the dollar, which depends on interest rates but also the speech of his pre President ", and that Germany," who has no interest that the euro zone into recession, has a more cooperative approach and a policy based more on demand ".

These convergences with the program of Francois Hollande do not erase important differences, including the fate of the pension reform, corporate taxation and a possible "boost" to the minimum wage (SMIC).

But on these subjects, Laurence Parisot is rather conciliatory. She says well prepared to discuss the calculation of the minimum wage, wants the introduction of such a minimum wage in Germany and does not reject the idea of ​​framing the high salaries in the public enterprises.

CONTACT

"I can not tell you if a scale of 1 to 20 is good or not," she told BFM-TV and RMC. "But (…) I expect a lot from the President on this point (…) There is a balance to find." And estimate, again, that Francois Hollande is right to put the subject on the table, "because it is the social bond is at stake."

She confirmed on BFM TV and RMC officials that Medef already working with employees of successor Nicolas Sarkozy, who takes office Tuesday.

"I myself have met several members of the team of Francois Hollande," she added. "We are sweeping all subjects and at the same time (…) we are already working with the unions."

During the campaign, the candidate Holland announced his intention to convene in mid-July a national conference for growth and employment.

"The approach of Francois Hollande on social dialogue is very much that we have long advocated," said in Les Echos Laurence Parisot, who even considers "interesting" sound idé e of "generation contract". 

Nicolas Sarkozy, after betting on dialogue with unions to ensure social peace, has only had its share of stops during the presidential campaign to denounce the "intermediate bodies" charged tied up and threaten to appeal directly to the "people" by means of referendum.

Audi, the premium brand of Volkswagen sold 143,500 vehicles in March, a record, or 14.1% from a year earlier, thanks to solid demand from the States U.S. and China.

Over the quarter, the manufacturer sold 346,100 vehicles, representing an increase of 10.8%.

"We started the year 2012 successfully and we anticipate continued growth in the coming months," said in a statement Peter Schwarzenbauer, responsible for sales of Audi.

The activity of the French manufacturing sector has improved slightly in February, according to final results of the survey from Markit purchasing managers published Thursday.

The PMI rose to 50.0 last month, slightly below the first estimate (flash) published on February 22. He had registered at 48.5 in January.

The index found the 50, which separates growth from contraction, after six months in negative territory.

The index of manufacturing production also increased, to 50.8 against 48.8 in January and 51.4 in the first estimate.

That of new orders increased to 48.2 against 45.7 a month earlier (47.9 in flash).

"After having contracted slightly over the last six months, the French manufacturing sector appears to be stabilizing in February, showing an increase in production very marginal and the volume of new export orders increased moderately, "said Jack Kennedy, economist at Markit. 

"The weak demand persists, however, the domestic market while the purchasing price inflation is increasing and reached a high of eight months," he nuance.

"The resurgence of price pressures in a context of weak demand puts businesses in a difficult situation, any attempt to protect margins could result in a further decline in new orders."

At a central works council, the management of ArcelorMittal cinfirmé the stops on both blast furnaces Florange until June A possible restart will be discussed in May. The unions believe that management has signed the "death warrant" of their factory. The ArcelorMittal steel plant in Moselle Florange

Unions ArcelorMittal Florange (Moselle) estimated Thursday that management had signed the "death warrant" of their factory by announcing at a central works council (CEC) the import of Russian steel to feed the Lorraine site. "The management was committed to restarting our furnaces if Dunkirk was unable to feed here in the steel hot strip mill. And now she announces in CEC purchase 60,000 tons of metal in Russia . It is simply to sign the death warrant of Florange, "said, very back, the head of the CFDT, Edward Martin.  

Speaking to about 300 steelworkers from 9:00 blocking the exit site of shipments, the union said he was "disgusted by the lies" of ArcelorMittal. "If some still had doubts about the programmed death of Florange, it is definitely up," he said. Broccoli for Walter, FO leader, the import of steel from Russia "is an admission that Florange not restart." "Florange is fucked! We'll take a thousand jobs to the river and kill a jewel in the metallurgical industry on behalf of financial profitability," he said. "This decision is extremely serious and incomprehensible," said Jean Mangin, the head of the CGT. For him it is "demonstration that Mittal does not restart Florange".

Representatives of the CFE / CGC shared this analysis. "Import of Russian steel, this means restarting the blast furnace is more than Florange compromised," said Jean-Pierre Bremen. In the morning, the leadership of the world's number one steel has indicated to staff representatives gathered in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis) a recovery of blast furnaces Florange was conceivable that in the third quarter . The blast furnace P6 has not functioned since October while the P3 stopped since June. ArcelorMittal's management has also announced the import of 60,000 tons of steel from Russia purchased Seversthal, one of its competitors.

Between 200 and 300 steelworkers ArcelorMittal plant Florange (Moselle) Thursday morning blocked the release of shipments of the site to try to get the direction of restarting blast furnaces shut down since October, said a journalist AFP. The protesters were installed at the outlet from which the finished products factory, mainly sheet metal coils for the automotive industry. Unions fear the "programmed death" of this site, which employs 5,000 employees, after the announcement of management, last week, the blast furnaces would restart not only in the second quarter. The No. 1 global steel industry maintains that it is just a temporary standby necessary due to insufficient demand.

"We decided to hit Mittal where it hurts: the wallet," the official said CFDT Edward Martin, announcing "a block of unlimited duration." "We will build a war chest, loot the fruit of our labor," he said. At the same time opened in La Plaine-Saint-Denis, the French headquarters of ArcelorMittal, a central works council on the future of Florange site. While its two blast furnaces are dormant for several months, the hot rolling mill train Florange always produces some 200,000 tonnes per month of steel for automotive technology. The site is stocked with steel slabs produced by the ArcelorMittal plant in Dunkirk.

With this deadlock, the union hopes disrupt production in the automotive industry, has seen one of them, "just-works". ArcelorMittal Florange delivers its finished products manufacturers Peugeot, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi and Toyota. This action "punch" is the first conducted by the Inter CGT / CFDT / FO / CFE-CGC, after the occupation of management Monday. The Inter promised she would be "the nightmare of government," until May 6, when the second round of the presidential election. ArcelorMittal has recently decided the final closure of blast furnaces in Liege (Belgium) and Madrid, the other (two in Florange, Lorraine, one in Germany, two in Poland, two in Romania and Czech Republic) were officially launched pending before the upturn in orders.

On Tuesday, President-candidate Nicolas Sarkozy said: "We will make sure that (the Florange) reopens." FO federation of metallurgy has arrested Wednesday group management and government, demanding written commitments on the future of the plant Moselle.

Bouygues announced Wednesday the signing of the contract for the financing, design, construction, service and maintenance for 27 years of the future courthouse in the city of Paris.

The construction group will design and construction of the building for a total of 575 million euros, he said in a statement.

Its subsidiary Exprimm also ensure the operation and maintenance of the building for $ 12.8 million per year.

The future courthouse in Paris, designed by architect Renzo Piano, will gather in the ZAC des Batignolles the high court, the police court and the officer of the Crown, and all courts Instances of districts of Paris.

The work, which should start in summer 2013, will last 3 ½ years, Bouygues said.

The billionaire is the target of a tax adjustment record says Tuesday Médiapart site. The IRS would make him pay including the concealment of twelve bank accounts abroad and the acquisition of the island secret watering. Liliane Bettencourt at the fashion week in Paris, January 26, 2011.

Nearly 78 million euros. This is the tidy sum claimed by the IRS to Liliane Bettencourt said Tuesday the site Médiapart, who had access to the report of the National Directorate of tax audits (DNVSF). "These are the amounts charged (including penalties and fines) under the wealth tax for the years 2004 to 2010 and, under the income tax for the years 2006 to 2009. The Negotiations are underway on this issue, counsel for the heir seeking a reduction in the total amount of this addition, "the site.

EDF shares fell more than 5% Friday afternoon in Paris Stock Exchange, market participants have cited an article in Le Monde that the Socialist Party and environmentalists are about to sign an agreement providing for election closures nuclear power plants.

Interviewed by Reuters, the two sides, however, said no such thing had been decided yet and that negotiations for the presidential and legislative elections of 2012 in France continued.

The electrician public asked the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) to investigate the collapse of the course.

"Discussions are at this stage, more general," he told Reuters Michel Sapin, former economy minister, Francois Hollande close and involved in these negotiations.

As for Yannick Jadot, spokesman Eva Joly, candidate of Europe Ecologie-Greens, he felt that the article in Le Monde shows a vision "a little fictionalized" reality.

"Should there be an agreement between the two, Fessenheim shut fairly quickly.(…) We are still at an output of nuclear power including actual closing fast enough for the older plants, "he said.

He hoped that negotiations with the Socialist Party end up in the next 15 days.

François Hollande, Socialist candidate for president, wants a drop from 75% to 50% of the share of nuclear in electricity generation.

The central Fessenheim is the oldest in France and has two reactors of 900 megawatts each.

Last summer, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) found that the No. 1 reactor of the plant was capable of being operated ten years older.

The Irish budget deficit has reduced by 4 percentage points of GDP since 2009. Corporate profitability recovered sharply. But deleveraging too fast may influence the activity against becoming productive. Pedestrians in Dublin

If Ireland is still part of PIGS, it can not be in the same category as Greece or Portugal, as progress in a few months by former Tiger European are important. The Irish budget deficit – excluding bank recapitalization needs – fell by 4 percentage points of GDP since 2009. The current account deficit turned into a small surplus. Finally, corporate profitability recovered sharply.

The experts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the European Central Bank (ECB) and European Commission, who have just completed their assessment mission in Ireland, are seduced. "The ongoing adjustment is solid.The 2011 budget targets will be achieved and the ongoing structural reforms will also contribute to sanitation, "they note in their report.

However, Ireland is now entering a delicate phase. Or the risk of too rapid deleveraging weigh on activity, against becoming productive. The experts of the IMF, the ECB and the Commission to admit the hint. "Ireland will have to find a balance between the imperatives of debt reduction and limitation of the barriers to growth and job creation," they point out in their report. This sentence harmless and a bit blurry could announce a change in strategy for Ireland. The country needs it, says a recent report by Goodbody Broker.

Make concessions

Indeed, in Ireland, over-indebtedness affects both the public sector, private sector and banks.Simultaneously reducing the three is clearly a bad idea, says the report. If Ireland is determined to meet all objectives at the same time, the evolving recovery will be quickly suppressed. A risk highlighted recently by the Finance Minister Michael Noonan. Especially since the motor only turns in exports. The domestic market remains depressed by lower prices (unit labor costs fell by 15% and commercial property prices have been divided by two).

We must therefore make concessions to one side. But which one? As for households, the government can not do much. The debt reached 220% of disposable income, nearly twice the international average. And fall of financial markets could reduce household net wealth of 250 billion euros. The Irish are going to have to tighten their belts for several years.Make concessions on the public debt is also not in a financial crisis. Ireland recorded a primary deficit of 6% of GDP in 2011. This is the worst result of the euro area.

Remaining banks. They must bring their ratios to 122% loan to deposit by 2013. The challenge today is to allow banks to achieve that clean without excessively penalizing the credit. This will doubtless involve additional time but also further aid from the ECB, economists now believe. Lengthy discussion in perspective.

The stock markets in the euro area settle in the green Thursday at midday, driven by financial stocks boosted by a voting majority in the margin of the German Parliament the reform of financial stability in Europe.

However, progress is limited. If the ratification of strengthening the powers of EFSF (European Financial Stability Fund) is acquired in Germany, this vote does not dispel the differences that oppose European leaders on how to deal effectively with the debt crisis in the euro area, report professionals.

Around 12:20, the CAC 40 index, which made the yo-yo in early trading, rises above 3000 points.The index gained 0.84% ​​to 3020.70 points and 3033.38 and 2974.98 changes between.

The euro also benefits the vote in the Bundestag and is trading around 1.3642 dollars against 1.3536 late Wednesday.

In Paris, BNP Paribas (6.27%), Societe Generale (4.67%) and Credit Agricole (3.75%) are leading the CAC 40 increases as the Stoxx Banks (+ 1.92%) is the leading sector gains in Europe.

L'Oreal (-1.48%) shows the largest drop in the Paris index, weighed down by the statements of Reuters Clarins boss who said he is worried about the economy in Europe this year and next year .

"These comments (Clarins) are negative for L'Oreal, which makes 40% of its sales in Europe," said one trader.

Exchanges of Frankfurt and Milan won respectively 0.57% and 1.28%.EuroStoxx 50 index of the core values ​​of the euro area is 0.96%. Outside the eurozone, London yields 0.31%

"We continue to believe that the news of recent days are not particularly encouraging. We are seeing some convergence between the political leaders of the EMU (Economic and Monetary Union)," say the strategists rate of Societe Generale in their daily note .

The performance of the German government bond (Bund) is relaxed to 10 years by 1.0 basis points to 1.97%.

While European politicians opposing the idea of ​​issuing Eurobonds to respond to the crisis of sovereign debt, China could affect their development.

Europe is the first export market of China, which has clearly said he was in his interest to avoid a financial collapse that could cause a global recession.

China also wants to diversify its foreign reserves to reduce the share of U.S. government bonds, and did not wait for the deterioration in the sovereign rating of the United States last month to start doing.

"European countries are facing problems of sovereign debt.We have said countless times that China wants to give a hand and we will continue to invest (in Europe), "said Premier Wen Jiabao during the 'Summer Davos Forum' week last in the Chinese city of Dalian.

But he also said that the major developed economies were healthier fiscal position and urged Europe to make a reciprocal gesture by granting China the status of market economy.

Europeans have so far been reluctant to make this concession, given the exchange rate regime of the yuan, state control of Chinese industry and commercial litigation, intellectual property, for example.

Upon entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China agreed to a covenant which provided that she would not have the status of market economy in the world before 2016.Beijing has long called for this status to be granted in advance, as that would provide better protection against anti-dumping duties including the EU.

"A crisis is an opportunity"

"Europeans have not been sufficiently sensitive to the needs of China," said Etienne Reuter, a consultant who was representing the EU in Hong Kong and Japan.

China also wants the EU to lift an arms embargo imposed in 1989 after the crushing of the "Beijing Spring".

Privately, EU officials who manage the debt crisis remember that China is one of the few large foreign investors continue to buy bonds of countries in the euro area in the secondary market.

China thinks it also has also taken a large share of bonds rated triple-A issued by the European Financial Stability (EFSF) to support Greece, Ireland and Portugal as part of programs helps set up by the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

For Beijing, the problem is rather that there is not enough paper issues rated triple A European response to the request.Yields on German government bonds and UK safe haven to which have turned many investors are thus fell below the rate of inflation.

"It is in the interest of China that the euro area is stable with the creation of Euro-bonds, but China may have an impact on the decision of the European countries I doubt," said however Xu Bei, a Chinese economist who works in Paris for the French bank Natixis investment.

"In the Chinese mentality, a crisis is always an opportunity.The Chinese word for crisis has two characters: one meaning danger, the other opportunity, "says she.

In the short term, she says, it would make sense for China to buy the Italian Treasury bonds, which are active in Europe among the more volume and more liquid while providing an attractive return "if Excluding a scenario of extreme crisis. "

SECURE INVESTMENT

There is clearly a debate within the Chinese leadership on the pros and cons of going to the assistance of Europe.

Forum in Dalian last week, an adviser to the Chinese central bank, Daokui Li said that China should refrain from buying large volumes of European bonds.

In its edition for abroad, the People's Daily, for its part says that China should not act alone but work with other creditors, including the IMF, and ask that the euro area investment guarantees.

"Faced with latent systemic risk for European debt, China should both take the role of responsible great power but must also make security a prerequisite for an investment," said an editorial in Xiangyang Li, researcher international relations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

According to Etienne Reuter, Wen Jiabao wants to open China further and support the conservative voice of Europe, but among the other leaders argue that Beijing must be careful not to get too involved in other countries.

Chinese public opinion, at least as reflected by the blogs on the internet, look for caution on the issue of investment in Europe is for its part Bei Xu.

As for David Bowers, the financial advisory firm Absolute Strategy Research, the Committee is unlikely that China will take strategic initiatives to scale before the change of the management team in 2012, which should be reflected in particular by replacing Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

"The people that the Chinese are dealing, it is the Germans.Triple A is a nation like China, mercantile like China, and the Chinese could help them avoid making the taxpayers bear the German "a heavy burden, he said.

China is becoming the next two years the largest trading partner of Germany instead of France, noted David Bowers.

"They (the Chinese) will have to wait until Germany is clearer about what she wants in Europe," he said.