International & World Report

"I listened to France Info radio Saturday when I heard the note of the deterioration in the U.S. by Standard and Poor's. Though I have expected, I was very worried. Not for the United States, but I wondered what would happen Monday at the opening of the markets. I spent the day listening to the radio gamberger. It was great for me because all day the journalists spoke only financial, AAA rating, the rating agencies. We rarely talked about as much my passion in the media! Joking aside, I was worried. Sunday, I surfed all the sites info from my iPhone, that's how I learned that the ECB was planning to buy securities in Italy and Spain. I was reassured, but I waited for the opening of markets with anxiety. "

"So it's the end of the world?"

"Monday morning, arrive at work before the markets open.My colleagues and I, we laugh yellow, you wonder "when is the end of the world?". The morning went well thanks to the announcements of the ECB, I breathed a sigh of relief. I expected that the stock market tumbles and climbs, but it rises very little. But when it was revealed that the ECB did not buy that much of Italian and Spanish titles, bang, everything collapsed. There is nothing worse than a disappointed hope. To make matters worse, a spokesman for the German government said that the European emergency (EFSF) should "stay as it is" (the face of calls, including French, to increase its staffing to fight against debt crisis , Ed). In the world of finance, it was a joke: As soon as the stock market decline we say "ah, a German leader has spoken." Well there was quite that.Monday night, the ACC finished the session on a further drop of 4.68%. "

"The worst days of my week is definitely Tuesday and Wednesday. There, I was really afraid, I hung my head payday loans. We were stunned to face the noise of the gravity of the situation of Societe Generale. As the bank had already had to deal with the case Jérome Kerviel (the trader who lost nearly 5 billion euros in the bank in 2008, ie), the rumor might have seemed credible. This story disgusts me. When I think that some have started this rumor to sell shares short and buying 20% ​​less than two days later, it puts me out of me. Because I know that those who suffer, it is the small savers. Tuesday night, the ACC shows a gain of 1.63%. Nevertheless, I am not alone.However, since the 2008 crisis, I learned to better my personal life separate from my work, I do sleep more as I have done in the sub-prime crisis. I slept like a log, exhausted. "

"I'm not going to shoot myself"

"Wednesday, the markets are sealed by rumors of degradation of the note of the French debt. I'm not surprised. My personal analysis is that the deterioration of the U.S. debt will have negative consequences on the note of the French debt. The CAC closed down 5.45%. I try to relax at home in the evening. I will not shoot myself in the foot every time things go wrong. "

"Thursday and Friday, the stock market has regained color. On Thursday, the CAC closed on an increase of 2.89% and 4.02% Friday. I'm not confident either. I do not know how long we're going to balance.I spend Friday night to read newspaper articles, think about how markets will open Monday. I started to install fiber optics to my house, I will continue to tweak this weekend. To be able to surf the web faster to read the financial information. Gamberger for what will happen to the market opening on Monday. "

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The fifteen-minute speech of Barack Obama addressed the U.S., not markets. The objective of the President was to convince his fellow citizens that the right of the Republican Party is responsible for the impasse. He asked the rest of his listeners to call their senator or their Republican Congress asking them to compromise.

Barack Obama said the disaster would be a failure to pay the Treasury on Tuesday, if this compromise was not reached. The economic crisis that would result, he said, entirely caused by the political dysfunction in Washington.

Obama maintains its position

For the chief executive of the United States, the problem of excessive indebtedness of the country is the result of at least ten years of lax fiscal policy. First, because of excessive spending and irresponsible tax cut decided in George W. Bush.He then explains the explosion of debt since taking office by the need to save America from a very serious recession.

Nothing he outlined in his speech Monday night was not already stated in previous days by Barack Obama. From this point of view, it may disappoint the market. The White House put on the pressure of public opinion to split the Republicans in two.

He tries to rally the Republican pragmatists to what he calls "a balanced approach" to reducing debt. That is a major plan that includes both tax increases and cuts in public spending.

However, he supported the plan proposed by the Democratic majority leader of the Senate, Harry Reid. It abandons the idea of ​​raising taxes.It offers a massive and immediate increase in the debt cap, with "savings" of the same order.

Republicans denounce economies sham

John Boehner responded Monday night's speech by Barack Obama. Photo credits: NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP

Further escalation, that night, in the war between the elected officials for several months Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. to find a solution to the need to reduce the U.S. budget deficit. Having failed to reach an agreement with Barack Obama, the chairman of the House of Representatives, Republican John Boehner, Friday slammed the door to negotiations with the president.

At issue this time, as the Republican's will vote Democratic president to make an additional $ 400 billion of tax increases. A demand unacceptable, according to Boehner, while the two sides had previously agreed to a ceiling of one trillion dollars in additional tax revenue.This Saturday, the threat of a default by August 2 of the world's largest economy has thus further increased.

Of default formally excluded

The President has convened several political leaders to an emergency meeting Saturday afternoon at the White House to try yet again to reach compromise. Both sides say they are confident of raising the debt ceiling (14.294 billion U.S. dollars), reached on May 16, but whether common ground had been reached on the amount of the uncapping. Barack Obama and John Boehner have ruled out a formal non-payment within 10 days.

But the talks still face the question of the amount of budget cuts and debt reduction.Republican side, John Boehner said that after the new clash, he preferred to look to the leaders of the Senate to find a "reasonable" on these issues. Which casts a big doubt about the outcome of negotiations Saturday with the president, which is called Boehner. Democratic side, Barack Obama is prepared to assume full political responsibility to raise the debt ceiling in order to unlock at least for a time, the status quo. "If that's all Congress can do, I will sign an increase in the ceiling to take us to 2013," the president said.

Obama recalled that he had proposed to the Republican's $ 1.65 trillion spending cuts various offers an "extraordinarily fair" said the president.But still not enough for John Boehner, who accuses the president's inability to take "tough decisions" on reducing public spending. Boehmer wishes to bring to the 3 trillion budget savings over 10 years.

Time-critical

The time to find common ground is critical. The readiness of Barack Obama to convene a further meeting this Saturday is a sign that the U.S. president does not want to wait until the deadline of August 2 to reach an agreement. "We have more time in front of us," he said.

Recalling that Wall Street opened Monday, the president pointed to the impact on financial markets of such uncertainty. "Americans are outraged" by the inability of Congress to act, he said.This willingness to find a solution is also shared by the Republican camp, in which counsel highlighted the urgency of an agreement by Monday. What then leave both parties ten days to write a non-redundant legislation and get it validated by Congress.

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"Yes, I advocate a federalist vision of Europe," enthused Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday before his counterparts in the eurozone. The Franco-German proposals for a better European governance are not intended to create a big night in which federal public opinions are not ready. The French initiative on the fact that the Greek debt crisis has revealed the interdependence of European economies. "We have reached a degree of interpenetration as the most federalist of us did not even imagine. The Stability Pact is not enough, "says one senior European official.

The proposals will set aside any supranational option. The proposal to create the office of Union Minister of Finance put forward by Jean-Claude Trichet, the head of the European Central Bank, was clearly rejected by Paris."The idea of ​​the president is to move towards more European integration. However, he does not want a supranational economic government, "said one close adviser. "He believes in a more close monitoring by peers, by the Commission, and also the creation of a European rating agency," it adds.

Among the possible ways, that of a regular meeting of Heads of State in the euro area. Until now, German Chancellor opposed any "institutionalization" of the summit to seventeen for three reasons: not to cut Europe into two hopelessly between those who use the euro and those that have no. Do not give the new speaker a casting vote in the Mediterranean countries (Greece, Portugal, Italy, Spain …) friends of France and are far from being paragons of virtue.And, ultimately, do not support the idea of ​​a Franco-German Executive which is expected to submit the rest of Europe.

A "European Fund"

For this reason, many MEPs protest against the double standards of Paris and Berlin. "The economic governance of the Franco-German dictatorship is not a solution," says MEP (Modem) Sylvie Goulard, who defends the idea of ​​involving the European Parliament to tax policy options. Other tracks include the gradual transformation of European Stabilization Fund into a "European Fund." Finally, many "federalist" believe we should give more resources to the European Commission. "The statements of intent for a greater convergence of economic policies were made in the Lisbon strategy, and it did not help," says Sylvie Goulard yet.

At the Élysée, it places great emphasis on the need to confront the high-level fiscal policy choices, budgetary, wage. "Between 1997 and 2004, the French and the Germans had a policy against it. In France, we opted for 35 hours in Germany, Schroeder was the opposite. It was the model of what not to do when you're in the euro area, "says one close to the head of state.

"After a rigorous regime of five open time of the attack by external growth," warned in March industrialist Vincent Bolloré, chairman and largest shareholder of Havas, on the occasion of the annual results of French communications group. First founding of the strategy of conquest, Havas announced Wednesday a majority stake in Host, "the largest independent creative agency in Australia," said David Jones, appointed four months ago, Havas CEO after chairing the network Havas Worldwide (Euro RSCG and Arnold).The group is already present in Australia through the agency Euro RSCG, Red Agency, Arnold Furnace and Media Contacts.

Founded in 2000 by Anthony Freedman, integrated advertising agency Host has 120 staff and advises clients such as Vodafone, Levi's, Coca-Cola Company and Australian companies BankWest, BT Financial Group and Sydney Water. Havas did not provide the amount of the transaction. David Jones said, however, that Host is "growing with double digit growth in its income for five years." Gross margin for the agency, which will retain its name and its current leaders, is estimated at about $ 30 million. "This acquisition is strategic for Havas, is its CEO. This is the largest independent agency in Australia, a brilliant creative agency several times crowned by lions at Cannes.It is also entirely consistent with our model by placing digital at the heart of everything we do. Over 30% of revenues come from digital Host. Finally, with Host and after the acquisition in late 2010 Porda corporate agency in Hong Kong, we increase further the percentage of our revenue in Asia Pacific. "

750 million cash

This external growth "measured but determined," to borrow the words of Vincent Bolloré, must lead the sixth largest global communications to reach 2.5 billion euros in sales within three years. In 2010, revenue was $ 1.558 billion."We now have a healthy balance sheet with cash of 750 million euros, one billion dollars available for acquisitions while in 2005 Havas posted debts of 750 million euros," says its new CEO.

To refine its strategy, David Jones was held in mid-June sixty major Havas executives in Barcelona. The group aims to strengthen in Asia and Latin America as well as in the digital businesses, with "priority given to social networks and geolocation, which represents the opportunity to major transformation of our industry." In 2010, digital accounted for nearly 20% of its revenues. But unlike its big French rival Publicis, which absorbed Digitas, Razorfish and Rosetta, Havas does not increase the scope of redemptions in the industry."We prefer to focus on budgets and talent at the heart of our agencies, rather than isolating them in silos experts, sometimes paid dearly, insists David Jones. That's what we did in recruiting team or Modernista digital with the acquisition of Socialistic. "Havas should also accelerate the deployment of its" microarray ", Arnold and BETC. The first, born in Boston, is a twenty offices around the world. The second, BETC, created in Paris by Mercedes Erra and Remi Babinet, will remain housed in the Euro RSCG network. After an initial introduction to London, BETC could export its "model of start-up" in the United States, Latin America or Asia.

Courted by the stock exchanges around the world, Chinese private enterprises would they be about to fall into disgrace? After several scandals revealed in recent weeks, rating agencies go up to the plate one after the other. Fitch Ratings yesterday estimated that fraud cases were probably only just begun in the Middle Kingdom.

The U.S. agency has assessed 35 companies listed on the Shanghai and is ready to review its portfolio of Chinese. She considers their standard accounting and trading in Shanghai as many "key indicators of their weakness."

Although the Chinese accounting standards, adopted in 2006, are very close to IFRS (international financial-reporting standards), audit firms have not the confidence of investors, and obviously not the rating agencies which still largely prefer the four major (Ernst & Young, KPMG, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte & Touche).The Fitch report said that companies from these large firms "would be more difficult to publish than those fraudulent reports go through domestic companies."

Fitch does not mean to review the scores awarded to different companies observed, adding that they "are already taking into account the context of a Chinese legal environment and an under-developed documentation, practices and specific business low corporate governance practices. "

Nevertheless, this case is the latest blow to Chinese companies. Last week, Moody's, which was hoisted the "red flags" of sixty-one companies that note. Fitch's rival evoked particular the opacity caused by a family shareholding in forty-three of them.

For several weeks, scandals involving Chinese companies listed multiply.Everything was packed in June, with the case Sino-Forest the title of which collapsed in Toronto. Since February, the business of handling accounts or misrepresentation of results had already forced many companies to delist in the U.S..

Loss of confidence

In total, nearly forty companies have shown irregularities, not the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Constable of U.S. markets, has established a special committee to investigate these Chinese companies.

Hong Kong is no exception.The financial analysis firm Dealogic calculates that Chinese private enterprises were canceled or postponed them of trading, the equivalent of $ 3.8 billion.

Finally, there is a shift among investors who gradually give more confidence in the state, whose sovereign debt is rated A + by Fitch and Aa3 by Moody's, as private companies.

The health of European banks, crucial to the future of the euro zone, is good, has hammered the EBA. This was based on the highly anticipated results of stress tests to measure the strength of credit even if prolonged recession. The supervisor had demanded a hard capital ratio of 5% the EU average was 7.7%. Of 91 institutions screened in 21 countries, eight failed the exam. The eight former "need 2.5 billion euros to build," said ABB.

Like last year, the figure is much lower in the eyes of the challenges faced by European banks, battered by the markets in recent weeks. These data, however, take into account some 60 billion euros to recapitalize by many actors involved European banks since the beginning of the year.Without this, 20 banks have also failed the tests. Above all, 16 facilities succeed narrowly, with a hard capital ratio below 6% which presents itself as the next steps to achieve.

Despite its efforts to restructure its banking sector, Spain realized, like last year, the worst performance: 5 Iberian institutions are recalibrated, including four savings banks, and seven others remain in a tie. Two Greek banks – tested on six – have also failed. Finally, an Austrian completes the list of poor performers.

France is doing well, What are the opportunity to the new Minister of Economy Baroin to praise "the strength of the universal banking model" in French. For its part, Italy, jostled for a week in the markets because of its huge debt, also managed a shot together.Italian banks had greatly strengthened their capital in recent months.

In Portugal, a weak link in the euro area with Ireland and Greece, no banking group is sticky. The Central Bank of Lisbon recalls, however, that the first two private groups in the country, Banco Commercial Português and Banco Espirito Santo proceed in three months to "increases in capital or asset sales."

European Summit on 21

It will take a few days now to say whether this exercise much more ambitious than the 2010 vintage will have served its purpose: to reassure the markets. Time for analysts to compile the exceptional amount of data disclosed by the banking community. In particular, their exposure to sovereign debt will be viewed under the microscope.Even before the publication of its results, check-up was considered inadequate in the trading rooms because it does not test the scenario of a failure of Greece, although its potential impact is partly taken into account.

A fault is the most likely outcome for investors, as European states do not find agreement. The prospect of a summit looming on Thursday for "the financial stability of the euro area and the future financing of the Greek," should restore confidence. Until then, the terms of a second rescue stumbled on participation with the private creditors, as required by Berlin.

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Saturn must be profitable in three years: it is the objective that its new owner, HTM Group, has set. The holding of the family group Mulliez (Paragraph, Kiabi, etc.). Boulanger strengthens its brand with 35 stores in French Media Saturn, a subsidiary of the German Metro, which she bought on June 30 for an undisclosed price.

"Saturn knew generate traffic in its stores with low prices and promotions, but never developed Internet business and has never managed to be profitable," especially in front of supermarkets are on the same niche (26 % market share), explains Layous Bernard, director of purchasing and marketing Boulanger.

"With Saturn, Boulanger changes category. Faced with global suppliers, we will have greater purchasing power and we will be known to the public, "he says.The distributor of multimedia products and services and appliances improves its national coverage with this acquisition, which "saves 3 to 4 years of expansion." Even if Baker is, first, giving up open the store on the outskirts of Saturn provided Avignon and on the other hand, give five other outlets of the brand (Toulon, Le Havre, Mulhouse, Aubergenville , Angers), and a shop in Tours Boulanger to respect the opinion of the Competition Authority on the merger.

No project abroad

The integration of the stores kept Saturn, which carry a turnover of 500 million euros, will allow Boulanger (97 stores) to reach the 2 billion mark in sales in a French market the electrical appliance 22 billion euros, according to Gfk.

"The market has been growing steadily for twenty years, with the exception of 2009," says Francis cord, CEO of HTM Group. Since the beginning of the year, but the activity is again down, 1.2%, except for sales professionals on the Internet, such as Darty and Fnac. These are already doing about 10% of their sales through this channel, twice as Boulanger, who made his priority. Points boulanger.com withdrawals and will appear in the old Saturn, because a client of two picks the order.More reason to want to see HTM Group "soon" its goal of 150 stores Boulanger on the rise, with major cities and especially Paris-line of sight. International expansion, produced by its competitors, remains a dream, "but before going abroad, one must be strong in our home market," said Francis cord. Confident, it provides a higher turnover of Boulanger 3% over the year, at constant perimeter.

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Asian stock markets continue to ride a wave of optimism after the Greek Parliament voted Wednesday austerity plan imposed on the country. Allowing it to qualify for the new tranche of international financial assistance of 110 billion euros was granted last year. As clashes continue between now expected between demonstrators and police, MPs are now called to vote on the bill of the plan voted on yesterday.

The Nikkei 225 gained 0.36% to 9832.72 points. The increase is significantly more pronounced in Chinese markets: the Hang Seng in Hong Kong climbed 1.70% to 22,436.80 points and the CSI 300 in Shanghai rises from 1.51% to 3045.50 points.

On the other Asian financial centers, the trend is similar. The Taiwan TAIEX advances 0.43% at 8610.54 points.In Australia, the S & P / ASX 200 is 1.49% at 4597.10 points, the FTSE Singapore Straits Times gained 1.04% to 3111.73 points and in India, the BSE Sensex was up 0.24% to 18,738 points.

South Korea, Asia's fourth largest economy, has lowered its growth forecast for 2011 to 4.5% against 5% originally planned, due to rising oil prices. In addition, inflation is expected to reach 4% for the year, against 3% originally planned. The Kospi gained 0.47% to 2104.21 points.

A successful introduction to Buy Your Dreams

This good news from Greece strongly supports the bank stocks. In Hong Kong, HSBC Holdings climbed 2.17% to 77.6 Hong Kong dollars and Bank of Communications is 1.91% to 7.46 Hong Kong dollars.In Japan, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group climbed 2.35% to 391 yen and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group was up 1.97% to 2485 yen.

Note that the Stock Exchange of Shenzhen (southern China), the action of the automaker Build Your Dreams (BYD), in which the American billionaire Warren Buffett owns 9.89%, soared 43.7% to 25.87 yuan for the IPO.

In addition, the South Korean giant Samsung Electronics filed a complaint against Apple to prevent it from importing to the United States several of its most famous products manufactured abroad. At the Seoul Stock Exchange, Samsung lost 0.84% ​​to 826 won.

Oil prices without direction

Oil prices were without leadership in electronic trading Thursday in Asia after sharp rise in the day following the adoption by the Greek Parliament of a tight budget, analysts said.In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August took 15 cents to 94.92 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for August delivery fell by 32 cents to 112.08 dollars.

Busy schedule these days. The successor to Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the International Monetary Fund could indeed be announced this Tuesday – Christine Lagarde is the favorite -. But it is Greece that all eyes remain fixed, while growing and sy strikes may last until the vote of the austerity plan by the Greek Parliament which must take place by Thursday. However, it seems, according to analysts, the markets are betting on good news. While the euro area would, as a precaution, already developed a backup in case of a negative vote.

In the wake of Wall Street Monday closed sharply higher, the Paris Stock Exchange has expanded its gains yesterday, Tuesday, in the morning, but irregularly.After winning up to 1%, the Cac 40ne accounted for more than 0.77% in late morning, above the 3825 points, and 0.55% in mid-session at 3817.47 points.

On the currency markets, the euro declined slightly against the greenback mid-term, to 1.4275 dollar.

As for oil prices, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for delivery in August gained 0.29% to 90.87 even dollars in mid-session.

Housing: housing starts and building permits up

On the macroeconomic front, the number of starts of new homes increased by 11.4,% year on year in France for the period from March to May, while the number of building permits for these homes has increased 4.3%, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing.

At 18 hours, will be published the figures for registered job seekers and offers collected by the job center in May.

In the U.S., the S & P / Case-Shiller of home prices in April (15 hours) and consumer confidence in June (16 hours) are also expected.

Carrefour jumps, Casino unscrews Accor (3.01% to 29.44 euros) held in mid-session the head of the CAC40, while Alstom (-1.43% to 41.08 euros) was last in the index star. Alstom, which takes 14 hours to its General Assembly on Tuesday.Against a background of optimism about the outcome of the parliamentary debate on the budget austerity in Greece, the banking sector performs well: Crédit Agricole climbed 2.50% to 9.87 euros, Societe Generale is 1.54% to 38.25 euros, BNP Paribas rose 1.10% to 50.71 euros and Natixis gained 1.04% to 3.29 euros.

EADS: + 0.09% to 22.07 euros

China could control dozens of Airbus during a visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday in Berlin, said on Monday sources familiar with the matter.

Carrefour: + 2.16% to 27.02 euros; Casino: -5.10% to 62.54 euros

The distribution group received Monday a "proposal" to create Gama Brazilian joint venture equally owned by both groups in Brazil, the latter to eventually become a shareholder of Carrefour.Casino intends to disturb their alliance, saying the project "hostile", prepared in secret, but against which "has the power to oppose."

In addition, the rating agency Fitch has downgraded the French retailer Carrefour up a notch to BBB +, along with a negative outlook, expressing concern the pace of recovery activities and French pressure from shareholders , said in a statement Tuesday.

Thales: -0.41% to 28.27 euros

According to an internal study cited by the Tribune, the electronics group shows a drastic decrease of 13% of customer satisfaction since the arrival of the new direction.Some regret the centralization of applications and other lack of attention to their concerns.

Lagardère: + 0.92% to 28 euros

Analysts at the Swiss bank UBS raised their recommendation on the title to "buy" against "neutral" before.

Trigano: -4.08% to 22.10 euros

The specialist for caravans and motorhomes has said it expects a sales growth and results in 2011, following growth of 8.2% of its business in the third quarter, which covers the period from March to May

Teleperformance: -6.84% to 19.41 euros

The global call center cut its operating margin target in 2011 because of the recent slowdown in its business in the United States.

BioAlliance Pharma: + 1.83% to 6.12 euros

The biotechnology company said it had filed with the French Drug Agency an application for leave to Phase III clinical trial for Livatag, treatment of primary liver cancer.

CGG Veritas: + 0.06% to 23.2 euros

The group signed with the oil services group Bourbon marine services to offshore oil and gas a charter contract for five years to six new vessels support and assistance to its seismic surveys.