Business & Financial News

The International Monetary Fund is considering a loan of 13 billion euros to help new international bailout for Greece, according to the Wall Street Journal. IMF Executive Director Christine Lagarde during a press conference in Washington on 6 July 2011.

The International Monetary Fund plans to contribute a loan of 13 billion euros in the new international bailout for Greece, said Friday the Wall Street Journal on its website. "The size of the IMF's contribution has not yet been decided" but the institution currently looking for the money, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter in an article written from Brussels.

The IMF granted in May 2010 a loan of 30 billion euros in Athens, as part of an international plan of 110 billion. It has not been enough to revive the Greek economy, which sank in a severe recession, exploding public debt. Finance ministers from the euro zone must meet in Brussels on Monday to consider whether the conditions exist to implement a second level of support in Athens, including a public component of EUR 130 billion and partial clearing of debt held by private creditors to the tune of 100 billion.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos, counterparts Angela Merkel and Italian Mario Monti, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Friday expressed their confidence in the possibility of reaching an agreement when, after several postponements. February 9, an IMF spokesman, Gerry Rice, stated that before you can obtain a new loan, he was "very likely" that Greece has to undertake "prior actions" to show its commitment to measures required of it to improve the functioning of its economy.

Pernod Ricard noted Thursday its goal of operating income growth for the 2011-2012 fiscal year after the publication of interim results better than expected thanks to its performance in countries é mergents and strategy for its upmarket spirits.

During the six months to end December, the world's second largest wine and spirits behind the British Diageo posted an operating profit (ROC) of 1.379 million euros, up 17% organic growth, above the consensus of 1,326.8 million euros set by the editor of Reuters.

Its net income group share grew by 16% to 843 million, for a turnover of 4.614 million (4,623.7 million forecast by analysts) an increase of 8%. Organic growth was 11% (10.7% expected).

Confidence in the continuation of these trends, the wine and spirits group now expects organic growth in annual operating income of nearly 8%, against 6% so far, and a Net debt / EBITDA close to 3.9 at June 30, 2012, against four previously.

Pernod Ricard shows a net debt / EBITDA of 3.9 to 4.4 against 31 December 2011 to 30 June 2011.

The main unions of pilots, stewardesses and stewards have issued a strike notice for four days starting Monday. Air France has said it already able to provide over 80% of its flights. Of passengers at the information board on flights at Charles de Gaulle

French unions aviation, including pilots of SNPL and the main organizations of hostesses and stewards, confirmed Friday their strike call from 6 to 9 February to oppose a bill regulating the right to strike in this sector.

Air France plans nonetheless provide at least 80% of its flights. But warns that the percentage may be reviewed depending on the number of employees that arise at work, they are not forced to declare strikers.

For its part, EasyJet does "no major disturbances" on its flights despite the strike call.

In addition to the pilots and flight attendants, federations FO, CFDT, UNSA and CGT have the air, after an inter-union, called the staff of companies and their service providers to mobilize. The bill "has been hardened to the Assembly and the government does not want to negotiate, the National Council of SNPL therefore confirmed the strike on Friday from 6 to 9 and decided it would be renewable, either directly after 9, or at another time, "he told AFP Yves Deshayes, national president of the SNPL, the main pilots' union, super-majority at Air France.

"In the action via other means"

"At the Inter, after our board meeting, it's the same with a strike from 6 to 9, and a few different versions according to the unions," said Yves Deshayes. "The three main trade unions of PNC (flight attendants), the SNPNC, the Unac and UNSA also call from 6 to 9, "said the driver. "The strike is held from 6 to 9," also said Franck Mikula, president of the Unac (CFE-CGC) at the conclusion of the Inter.

The SNPL said that among the ground staff would go on strike and some others would be "in action via other means." "We call for the strike in all French airlines, in metropolitan and overseas territories" , said Yves Deshayes.

European stock markets have reduced their initial losses Thursday mid-morning, investors hope that Greece renounces its proposed referendum on the European aid plan for the country while Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy launched an ultimatum Wednesday night Athens ordered to implement the overall European level or risk not receiving any help.

At 10:31, the CAC 40 index yields 0.12% after briefly gained 0.3%. The benchmark index of the Paris lost up to 2.6% in early trade.

The London Stock Exchange gained 0.05%, while Frankfurt was down 0.25% and pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index drops 0.43%.

On the eve of crucial European summit must agree on strengthening the EFSF, rumors are going well. The scenario of the report shook the stock markets. The trading floor in Frankfurt

According to information from the daily Die Welt, Germany could request that the date of the scheduled EU summit be postponed Sunday. Significant differences remain in effect for the implementation, especially the status of the EFSF "reinforced". A European diplomat had already emphasized this point of contention with the AFP in the morning.

The silence of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy after their meeting Wednesday Express is not a good sign according to some analysts.

The summit, originally scheduled October 17, has already been postponed once.But several senior sources directly involved in the preparation and organization of the EU summit on Sunday, said on Thursday told Reuters not be aware of any proposed postponement of the meeting.

Another fear of the markets, they are trying to learn more about a paper on the EFSF, obtained by news agencies and that the European fund would be used as a last resort to recapitalize banks after the stress shareholders, private investors and governments.

Markets nervous

In this waiting period, nervousness is being felt in markets. Losses CAC40 who had reduced to just 0.5% to double and even more since the French values ​​now fall -1.35% to 15h.

European markets were down -1.1% on average (such as Madrid and Milan), but Frankfurt falls of -1.5%.

Morgan Stanley said Wednesday it posted a profit in the third quarter, supported by an accounting effect that stems from a new valuation of its debt.

The second U.S. investment bank posted a profit of $ 2.15 billion (1.55 billion), $ 1.15 per share against a loss of 7 cents a year earlier.

Net banking income rose 46% to 9.89 dollars.

Excluding a gain of $ 3.4 billion attributed to an adjustment of the value of its debt, Morgan Stanley gained 2 cents a share.This is related to an accounting rule known as an "adjustment to the valuation of debt" (debt valuation adjustements or DVA).

Clearly, the fact of integrating into account the increased risk associated with a reduced commitment required of the holder, thus generating accounting profits.

Before Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have also used the accounting process.

Forward Exchange, the title of Morgan Stanley advanced 18 cents to 16.81 dollars.

Income from its trading activities more than doubled from the third quarter of 2010 and an increase of 24% over the period April-JuneThis sharp increase reflects the gains attributable to the DVA.

Its asset management segment has meanwhile reached a revenue of 3.26 billion dollars, 5% more than last year at this time, but less than the second quarter.

GNP derived from asset management is in turn stood at $ 215 million, 73% from the third quarter of last year and 67% less than in April-June 2011.

This decline is attributed to losses on investments in its banking business and its activities in real estate.

The growth in world oil demand will grow less than expected in 2011 and will accelerate next year, predicted Wednesday the U.S. Agency for Energy Information (EIA).

The EIA, which has already significantly reduced its forecast last month, has not made this time only a small adjustment with growth forecast revised down 50,000 barrels per day (bpd).

The agency now predicts an increase in demand of 1.32 million bpd to 88.4 million bpd this year and an increase of 1.44 million bpd in 2012.

These figures are higher than the predictions of the International Energy Agency, based in Paris, which expects growth of only 1.25 million bpd.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has plans to increase the demand limited to 880,000 bpd in 2011 and an increase of 1.19 million bpd next year.

The EIA notes that if the supply of oil is still subject to a number of uncertainties, which she attributed to the instability in the Middle East, demand will continue to be penalized by the jolting of the economy.

"The downside risks dominate as fears continue to weigh on the pace of global recovery, the debt crisis continues in the European Union and other governments still face the challenge of deficits," said the EIA in its report.

François Fillon has aroused the wrath of unions by proposing to move towards a common retirement age between the two countries, without elaborating. But the French and German are not based on the same criteria.

The German model inspires François Fillon. In a speech on the "convergence" tax, the prime minister even tried to bring the debate in the field of pensions. But considering that it was necessary to "move towards a common retirement age" with the neighbor across the Rhine, it has sparked an outcry, just months after the entry into force of reform swept-fought.Since then, unions, employers' policies and comment on his remarks, not always understand what the Prime Minister referred.

If François Fillon spoke of the legal age …

His little phrase is especially feared the unions and the opposition a further decline in the minimum legal age of retirement, ie the age at which an insured can collect his pension. And it has nothing to do with the threshold of 65 or 67 years in force in Germany.It is "easy to talk about such retirement to 67 years in Germany and to face the French 60 years, omitting the one hand, remember that this is for Germany the retirement age full-rate and for France the legal age of cessation of activity, "lamented last year already economist Julia Cage, in a study of the Jean Jaures.

For the first, from 60 to 62 years by 2018 with the last pension reform, is the legal age of retirement. But for a full pension, you also claim a number of years of contributions, 40 and 3 months now. If it did not, it undergoes a discount at least 65 years of waiting-line gradually lengthened to 67 years in 2023 – the legal age which guarantees the full rate, regardless of the contribution period.The French system is indeed one of the few to impose a double bind, age and minimum insurance.

In Germany, for against, it is primarily the first which is taken into account. Employees receive their full pension at age 65 on the sole condition of having contributed five years. From 2012, this threshold will be gradually decreased by one, then two months per year to reach 67 in 2029, according to the reform adopted in 2007.

If he spoke of the age at full rate …

And so Francois Fillon was actually referring to a convergence of ages starting at the full rate, then the situations in France and Germany do not differ that much. In Germany, it will reach 67 years that by 2028. In France, it will be 67 years from 1 January 2023, for the generations born after 1956.The difference is that the French will have all their quarters from before, while the Germans, with some exceptions, can not do with discount.

The German decision to delay the age of two years starting at the full rate is also one reason: the German population is aging while the birthrate falls. The fertility rate is only 1.3 children per woman, against 2 in France, where the birthrate is one of the most dynamic in Europe. The passage of 67 years accompanied by an appeal also more massive premium pension and a decrease in the level of pensions. Between 2007 and 2009, the poverty rate in over 65 rose from 10.5 to 12.1%.

In Germany, the decline in the age of retirement has therefore not been smooth.Very hostile to reform, the unions pointed out that in a crisis, extend the service period is most likely to create unemployment. Especially since the "seniors" are often left behind when the job market is scarce. In 2009, their participation rate was only 56.2% across the Rhine. In France it was less than 39%.

European shares ended down Thursday after three sessions in a row to rebound in the wake of Wall Street, where the departure of Executive Steve Jobs of Apple weighs on the coast.

The CAC 40 index finished down 0.65% at 3,119 points, after gaining 1.6% up in volumes that have accelerated shortly after the opening of Wall Street to finish at a level of 102% of their average last three months.

Other European stock markets, London has lost 1.44% and 0.25% Milan. Victims of several rumors, including one referring to a general ban on short sales in Germany denied by Berlin, Frankfurt fell 1.71%.The pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 index yielded 0.98% after opening up 0.6%.

On Wall Street, the S & P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq lost 1.1 to 1.2% at 6:17 p.m..

"The market plays to be afraid before Bernanke's speech tomorrow.The question is whether the Fed chairman will have the means to announce something solid while the United States are in a liquidity trap, "said Yves Marc, seller actions at Global Equities.

ADJUSTMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BACK

As for values, the bank (0.58%), the only growing sector, have benefited from the investment of $ 5 billion (3.5 billion) of Berkshire Hathaway in Bank of America.

This investment could be the harbinger of a more massive return of investors to the market this autumn, says Fabrice Cousté, CEO of CMC Markets France.

In Paris, Crédit Agricole jumped 4.81%, moving up and the top 40 increases in the ACC after publishing quarterly results better than expected, loads of Greece finally being advanced by less important.

"The adjustment of the markets continues and it seems likely that this adjustment continues in the fall," warned in a note Philippe Mimran, head of securities at managements UFG-LFP.

"The bond markets have clearly voted for a depressed economy, with real rates marginally positive German and American frankly negative," he adds.

The downturn in equity markets was also reflected in the yields of bonds rated.The performance of the 10-year German Bund dropped below the 2.2% to 2.179% against 2.188% yesterday.

That of the French OAT with the same maturity has returned around 2.86% after flirting with 2.95% in session, following the announcement of measures to improve public finances by the Prime Minister, François Fillon.

Oil prices have closed up Monday, while Brent has however declined, while the progress of the rebels Libyan suggests a possible resumption of oil exports of the country.

On the Nymex, the contract to September U.S. crude (WTI), which expired at the end of the session, ended with a gain of $ 1.86, or 2.26% to 84.12 dollars a barrel.Brent has in turn sold 26 cents, or 0.24% to 108.36 dollars.

Italy's Eni, which was the main foreign producer of oil in Libya, is back in the country, while the entry of rebels in Tripoli Libyan suggests a possible resumption of exports of oil.

Tanks and snipers in the Libyan Army struggled Monday morning to withstand the assaults of the rebels in the capital, where thousands of opponents of Gaddafi celebrated the imminent end of a free reign began in 1969.

Before the outbreak of the uprising in Libya, the country, a member of OPEC produced about 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd), nearly 2% of world production.

The titles of French Total, OMV of Austria and Eni have closed up 2.25%, 5.14% and 6.33%, the market hoping for a return to the situation prior to the insurgency.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index of oil and gas sector was up 1.28% on his side.