International & World Report

Pressure mounts on Barack Obama. While the deadline of August 2 approach, the U.S. president can not convince Republicans to vote on raising the debt ceiling of the United States. He must now face the threat of a deterioration in the country's sovereign rating from Moody's. Wednesday evening, the rating agency said it could in the coming weeks to lower the American note, currently the highest possible AAA, AA category, which is an investment category.

Moody's became the first of the three major rating agencies to place the note in the United States under surveillance with risk of a downgrade. In a statement, she said, receive "a possibility of increasing the maximum statutory debt is not found in time."Without an agreement, the U.S. could miss some payments on government bonds in circulation, she says. The dollar and U.S. bonds fell after the announcement. The dollar's share has compounded its losses. In morning trading, the euro is worth 1.4196 dollars.

The agency intends to end the monitoring as soon as it can conclude whether a defect is avoidable or not. It will then decide if the United States are entitled to keep a stable outlook on their ratings, on the basis of the budget negotiations between Democrats and Republicans. But even if Congress manages to avoid a technical default in August, increases the likelihood of a revision of the outlook to negative in the weeks following, told Reuters Steven Hess, Moody's analyst."The fact that they do not agree on are the maximum debt shows that the outcome of negotiations on the status of long-term debt may not be very positive," said he.

Recall

Following this announcement, the Deputy Treasury Secretary for Finance interior, Jeffrey Goldstein, said the Moody's decision was a timely reminder of the need for Congress to avoid a default and to seal an agreement to reduce serious budget deficit.

For Democrat Chris Van Hollen, the words of Moody's demonstrated the danger in the ideological debates. "The fact that Moody's places the United States under surveillance and downgrade our rating to AAA underlines the danger of those who would do our economy and our jobs hostage to a rigid ideology instead of acting in the best interests of our country, "he said.

Tense discussions at the White House

The opinion of Moody's fell just before the fourth interview in four days between Barack Obama and the leader of the Congress. According to a Republican parliamentary attaché, she was the most tense of all. To conclude the meeting of Wednesday, the president of the United States would have meant he would no longer concession, even if it were put at risk its mandate. "I got to the point where I have to say 'enough is enough!" Is Ronald Reagan would sit here? I reached my limits. This may possibly lead to the end of my presidency, but I will not yield on this point ", would he have said.

Denying the information that the President had left the room abruptly, an audience member who requested anonymity confirmed that he had expressed his exasperation, saying, "Enough!".Barack Obama, who will again parliamentary leaders on Thursday, has also asked to renounce the political maneuvering, according to a member of the Democratic Party.

In this context, the President of the U.S. central bank (Fed), Ben Bernanke, warned that failure to pay the United States would create "huge problems" for the country and a "major crisis" in the world .

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"Nuclear power is one reason for the choice of France, not a choice of passion," said Eric Besson justified this Friday morning on Europe 1 radio. Recalling that the energy brought to France an "energy independence" and that it limited the emissions of greenhouse gases, the Minister of Industry, Energy and the Digital Economy has reported that "the certainty absolute "that electricity prices would be higher for the French consumer without nuclear.

The minister, however, announced that a "great foresight exercise", called "Energy 2050" was launched on Friday, "few hours". "We will study all possible scenarios (…) the energy mix for years to come."

No cases will be avoided, he said, "including so-called scenarios of nuclear power," even if "no belief" or "the choice of the Government and the President of the Republic." "To say 'out nuclear power', it means nothing, he said. What is interesting is to know where it is replaced, what consequences for the dependency [energy], how much it costs to businesses and consumers and with what consequences for greenhouse gas emissions. "

The program, which provides an "analysis of energy demand in France and the world" and "all sources of production" will be led by "the services of Bercy, with a number of experts and personalities independent, "the minister said without giving further details no fax cash advances.

Fessenheim: no suspension or moratorium

Eric Besson has also confirmed that the Fessenheim nuclear power plant in Alsace will not be subject to suspension of its business, or a moratorium. "The Nuclear Safety Authority, which is totally independent of political power, EDF has given permission to stay in business for ten years subject to a number of works. So Fessenheim continue its business, "he added.

But he added that "Fessenheim be subject, like all French nuclear power plants in Fukushima post-audit," an audit requested by the government to learn from the nuclear disaster that occurred in Japan in March. "The nuclear safety authority may make other decisions," he said.

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Too big banks are no longer popular. International regulators working on a way to discourage institutions to reach a critical size, representing a systemic risk. The aim is to avoid repeating the situation in 2008 when, at the height of the crisis, governments were forced to come to the rescue of the banks described as "too big to fail", ie plants with failure could endanger the financial system.

The Basel Committee on banking regulation, which will meet next week and consider the implementation of specific measures to the thirty largest banks, reported Bloomberg and the Financial Times. The idea would be to impose new capital requirements higher than other institutions through the application of a new specific prudential ratio.If these measures are validated, the additional reserve capital that institutions would be selected will earn 3.5% of their risk-weighted assets according to Bloomberg, or 2.5% reported the Financial Times. Restrictions in addition to 7% imposed under the Basel III standards.

The new ratios would be imposed on institutions sliding scale depending on the size of banks and their links with their competitors. The Bloomberg stressed that the highest ratio of 3.5% is not applicable today. But it would serve to discourage institutions to grow further.

France wants to exclude Crédit Agricole and Societe Generale lists

In total, nearly 30 banks that would be an increase in their capital reserve requirements. The most severe restrictions relate eight institutions including BNP Paribas.Four other European banks (Deutsche Bank, HSBC, RBS and Barclays) and three U.S. (Citigroup, JPMorgan and Bank of America) are also involved no fax cash advance. They would be forced to comply with a Core Tier 1 ratio, an indicator that measures the equity of 9.5%, the Financial Times. A second level would include four other banks.

But the list of banks involved are not yet fixed. The French regulator to try and ensure that Crédit Agricole and Societe Generale will be free of these new rules.

In addition, regulators have not defined the means by which institutions can be put in order.The arsenal of new rules imposed specifically to institutions "too big to fail", whose size deemed critical obliges the authorities to intervene in case of bankruptcy, should be ready for the next scheduled for November G20 stated Mario Draghi, chairman of the Financial Stability Board, in April.

But these new laws should not prevent banks from merging. "Institutions should already get the green light from regulators before any merger, the new ratios will be charged an additional constraint," says a corporate lawyer at the agency Bloomberg.

Little reaction in the markets

These ads have little impact on the shares of French banks. In the morning, the folds of the securities of banking stocks are less important than their benchmark index, the CAC40.The banks operate in a pocket-handkerchiefs: Company Génarale folds 0.5% 0.4% BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole 0.3% against a fall of 1% for the CAC 40.

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Asian stock markets follow divergent paths on Wednesday. Markets are generally reassured by U.S. data released Tuesday, less bad than expected on the price front in the production and sales details. But the reluctance dominates.

In Japan, the Nikkei decides to follow the good mood on Wall Street has ended sharply higher on Tuesday. The benchmark index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 0.28% to 9574.32 points at closing. The Topix, wider, took 0.22% to 824.65 points. Again, the action of the electric company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, illustrated by a jump of 32.12%, after the government submitted to Parliament Support project to fund compensation for victims. The title had already taken 25% yesterday.

In contrast, Hong Kong and Shanghai are losing ground.The Hang Seng loose 0.39% and the Shanghai Composite was down 0.49%. Investors are troubled by the decision of the People's Bank of China to meet Tuesday to 50 basis points on required reserve ratio of banks, hoping to contain high inflation that poses many economic and social risks. Beijing had announced earlier that consumer prices rose 5 guaranteed personal loan approval.5% in May, an unprecedented growth in nearly three years. The banking sector battered the image of Bank of China (-1.27%) and HSBC Holdings (-1.01%).

The KOSPI Korea following the Chinese markets and decline of 0.17%. Same thing for the Indian Sensex losing 0.31% and the S & P dropped 0.43% Australian. In Australia, the rating is pulled down by the airline industry. Qantas Airways (-1.06%) and Blue Holdings (-3.33%) and are penalized by their decision to cancel domestic flights due to volcanic emissions.

Trend mixed before U.S. crude stocks

The time is also reluctance on the oil markets on Wednesday. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery lost 25 cents to 99.12 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery rose 49 cents identical to 120.65 dollars.

Investors await the day the report on the status of stocks of petroleum products in the United States. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires, crude oil inventories have fallen by 500,000 barrels last week. In contrast, gasoline stocks had risen by 400,000 barrels and distillates (including diesel and heating oil) of 900,000 barrels.

This is no time to feast on world markets and the Paris Bourse was not really moving. This Friday, the CAC 40 opens just in balance, rising a timid 0.08% at 4008.43 points, retaining the symbolic threshold of 4000 points, and was saved yesterday after a lackluster session. The signals sent from Wall Street are not encouraging, nor those sent by the Asian markets on Friday morning.

Prudence therefore prevents excessive risk taking. Especially as investors await the release earlier this afternoon by the U.S. Department of Labor's highly anticipated monthly report on employment. He should come to confirm the trend shown in recent days across the Atlantic by the wrong numbers ADP and weekly jobless claims.Still on macroeconomic, the French budget deficit stood at 33.6 billion euros at end-March against 28.9 billion a year earlier, according to data released Friday by the Budget Ministry.

German industrial production for March is also expected.

Side currency, the euro rising slightly against the dollar at 1.4566 dollar. The European currency plummeted against the greenback following the announcement by the ECB yesterday kept the interest rates at their current levels until at least July. On the commodity front, the dollar's rebound has led to a plunge the entire sector. Oil has fallen below including $ 100 in New York, while silver lost 13% and 4% gold.

Values ​​to follow

Total

The oil company should react to the sharp drop in oil prices flexcheck cash advance.

Alcatel-Lucent

The telecommunications equipment has greatly reduced its losses in the first quarter to 10 million euros, against 515 million a year ago, and has recorded an increase of 15.2% of its turnover to $ 3.7 billion euros.

Carrefour

In an interview with Les Echos, the CEO, Lars Olofsson, made the revitalization of hypermarkets in France and its priority does not like the boss for France, whose departure was announced Thursday, is replaced by a French.

Eiffage

The group announced an increase of 13.2% of its backlog as of April 1, to 11.7 billion euros and confirmed its target of sales in 2011.

Icade, Veolia Environment

The group was selected by Veolia Environnement as exclusive partner for project implementation, the order of 100.000 square meters, designed to accommodate the consolidation of about 3000 to 4000 in Aubervilliers (Seine et Marne). Exclusive negotiations which are expected to undertake to reach a decision by early 2012, said the land in a statement.

Wendel

The group has announced organic growth of 9.9% of its sales in the first quarter to 1.44 billion euros, its holdings, including construction companies, which have benefited from economic recovery.

French cement publish today its first quarter results. Euler Hermes and Gascony will lift the veil on the turnover of the first quarter.

Sanofi-Aventis and CNP Assurances hold their general meeting.

For 18.98 euros, a low-rib of beef, half pork loin, fish, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, oranges, a loaf of bread and cheese at 0% fat fat and a liter of orange juice 100% pure juice. That the offer by Carrefour as part of the operation of "baskets of essentials", launched on Wednesday by the government.

From the end of the month, many brands of supermarkets (Leclerc, Carrefour, Casino, Auchan, Système U …), signed the agreement to be signed in mid-day with Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs , will offer their customers because of baskets ready to go, including ten foods for a minimum price "attractive."

"Instead of raw products" and season, says one in the entourage of the Minister.Consumers should find "at least one meat, fish, fruit, vegetable, cheese, dairy product and a drink," said Frédéric Lefebvre on Wednesday in the columns of Le Parisien – Today in France. Each brand itself composed his own basket and set the price.

If the agreement mentions a price "attractive" products and "quality", these terms are therefore left to the sole discretion of the distributors. "We want to emphasize fruits and vegetables and seasonal produce. From one week to another, so prices will vary depending on whether there are apples, pears and apricots, "explains the Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs.The latter relies on free competition to push prices down.

Up 2% to 4% in food prices

The launch of the "basket of essential" is timely, then the price of current expenditure, particularly food, continue to move upward bad credit payday advance. At the end of March, the federation of the retail stores has announced the forthcoming impact of inflation in the prices of agricultural commodities on the products sold in stores. On average, food should be sold 2% to 4% more expensive in the coming weeks. But on some commodities such as coffee and bread, the increase could reach 20%.

This factor, coupled with rising energy prices, consequently reduces the household budget.Consequence: according to a poll released on Monday and 20 minutes, one third of the French plan to reduce their food expenditures. A figure of concern to public health, if we consider that the cheapest products (canned, frozen pizzas …) are also those whose nutritional qualities are the poorest.

The launch of the "basket of essentials" could therefore provide a first response to soaring food prices. Hopefully the quality of products remains at the rendezvous. About an operation targeting the same type of school supplies, called "Essentials of school" and set up in September 2010, the association Familles de France pointed the finger at the poor quality of essential products offered by major surfaces.

* This week will include two types of meat of French origin (a low-rib of beef and half pork loin), fish, apples-to-earth, carrots, Spanish oranges, a loaf of bread, white cheese at 0% and a quart of orange juice.

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Aegis has published annual results this morning encouraging. In 2010, the British group, which specializes in media buying and market research, has a turnover growth of 6.4% at constant exchange rates, to 1.46 billion pounds (1.68 billion euros). Organic growth, the key index in the communication sector, stood at 5.8%, thanks to strong performances in the U.S. and Asia. Performance reached by the two pillars of the group: organic growth of Aegis Media (media buying) is up 5.7% while that of Synovate (research) rose 5.9%.

However, earnings before taxes fall from 25.6% to 68 million pounds.The group's profitability has been weighed down by special charges including the potential loss of money owed by one of its key customers in Spain, the food group Nueva Rumasa, who need a supply of 26 million pounds.

In 2011, Aegis expects growth in organic revenues at least equal to that recorded in 2010.

After these announcements, as Aegis jumped to the London Stock Exchange. While the FTSE-100 index of leading British place, ahead of 0.52% at 11 hours, Aegis rose 2.99%.

Aegis participation "financial" Bolloré

The main competitor of Aegis, WPP, Omnicom and Publicis Groupe have also issued strong performance for 2010 with organic growth of 5.3%, 6.4% and 8.3%.

Recall that the largest shareholder in Aegis, Vincent Bolloré owns 29.9% of capital.The French businessman, also a shareholder with 32.9% of Havas, said recently that its stake in Aegis was financial and that it was "not destined to remain forever" in its asset portfolio .

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The French will not endure forever rising fuel prices, without changing their consumption habits. According to an Ifop poll published Sunday in the South West, 47% of respondents intend to reduce their consumption now if gasoline prices continue to climb.

Consequence of the soaring price of oil, those fuel have reached record highs last week. A liter of unleaded 95 has sold 1.50 euros on average in the hexagon, and a liter of diesel 1.54 euros, said earlier this week the Directorate General for Energy and Climate (DGEC ). Some stations even offered Paris a liter of unleaded fuel to 1.8 euro.

If consumers incorporate more and more since 2005, the idea of ​​an inexorable rise in fuel prices, 1.5 euro per liter of diesel remains for many a symbolic threshold beyond which they consume as much. Only 15% of respondents put this threshold at a level greater than 1.5 euro per liter, said the survey. Jean-Louis Schilansky, president of the French Union of Petroleum Industries (Ufip), makes the same observation. He recalled that in 2008 when fuel prices had also risen sharply, the consomamation was down 3% once this threshold is crossed.

Not lower taxes

The decision to reduce its consumption or not, however, depends partly on the level of life. 40% of workers have thus been limited.In contrast, managers and professionals are more likely (14%) than average (11%) said they will not alter their habits, whatever the price of a liter. For many, the level of fuel consumption is also strongly constrained by the lifestyle.

Faced with soaring prices, the government this week but ruled out any cut in gasoline taxes could reduce the transport budget of the French. "You can take steps this guy at a time when we must take into public finances," ruled the Economy Minister Christine Lagarde. It was therefore confined to advise the French to buy the morning and follow rules of conduct to reduce, even at the margin, the price at the pump.

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The "pact of competitiveness" so dear to Germany Will it fizzle? Aware of the strong opposition raised by the proposals of Berlin, the European Council president, Herman Van Rompuy, unveiled on Monday closed its proposals to remedy the debt crisis in the euro area. A document which should allow the compromise by watering down the ideas initially advanced by Germany and France.

The plan, which will be formally submitted to the heads of seventeen at a special summit on March 11, is still only a working document.It was commissioned by Paris and Berlin on February 4 after a stormy summit, the other Member States with very little agreed to meet with a fait accompli of a "diktat" German.

Three key indicators

Rather than risk another clash on March 11, potentially disastrous for the euro area at a time when the doubts come on the market, the Commission services and Herman Van Rompuy preferred to exclude the more controversial ideas of the French plan German. The document, drawn up after consultation with seventeen governments no longer mentions the abandonment of wage indexation on inflation or the increase in age pensions.

Instead, the proposal provides for indicators to be met in three key areas: competitiveness, employment and public finances, according to a well-placed source.Governments would be required for example to stop the rise in wages if it became too large. They undertake to adopt systems of checks to the debt "in case of runaway, without directly copying the German model. They should also set goals for reducing unemployment, and monitor their systems for financing pensions. The exact details remain to be defined.

Another amendment: assessment would be entrusted to the Commission and not the capital, which should satisfy both small countries and the EU executive who feared that the Community method wither.

With this document, which is closer to the proposals originally developed by the Commission, Herman Van Rompuy takes the risk of disappointing the markets were hoping that a forceful response to the debt crisis.But it also gives Europeans an opportunity to compromise is crucial not to provoke a new wave of panic about the future of the euro area. Leaders indeed solemnly promised to agree by the end of March on a full arsenal of anti-crisis, including both a governance component of competitiveness through the pact and a safety net through the Financial Stability Fund (FESF ) for indebted countries.

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It is not on any official agenda, but a meeting to organize the French nuclear industry will go ahead on Monday at the Elysee. The Minister of Industry, Eric Besson, has indeed confirmed this morning on France 2 reports in the press, announcing today that Nicolas Sarkozy would chair the Council of nuclear policy, which he founded in 2008. "The only thing I can tell you is (this meeting) concerns the organization of the French nuclear industry, what has been called France's nuclear team," said Eric Besson on France 2.

According to La Tribune, a preparatory meeting was already held last Friday, bringing together around one table Lauvergeon, CEO of Areva, Henri Proglio, head of EDF, Gerard Mestrallet, head of GDF Suez Patrick Kron, CEO of Alstom, and Eric Besson Dipuo Elizabeth Peters, Minister of Energy of South Africa.The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma will indeed soon be visiting Paris to talk about nuclear. The challenge for France is to develop a coherent strategy to deal foreign clients especially not to not repeat the failure of Abu Dhabi in December 2009 when the French had lost a huge contract for nuclear centarles, at least 20 billion deal to Koreans.

The TTY in focus

On Monday, participants should discuss in particular the strategic partnership between EDF and Areva. The decision to bring the two French energy giants was taken at the last council of nuclear policy in late July 2010 bad credit unsecured personal loans.According to unidentified sources quoted by La Tribune, the two companies involved do not share the same vision of the progress of the project: Areva, it says that "the agreement is ready in its broad lines" then for EDF, "there are still points of disagreement."

According to Les Echos, the discussion should revolve around one central question: "whether the combination of EDF reactor project at medium power, TDD, developed by Areva and its partner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Capacity reaches 1100 megawatts Atmea, against 1600 for the EPR.EDF could decide to take part in the cooperation on the TDD, or work on its own medium-power reactor with its Chinese partner CGNPC, or both at once.

Both companies should also discuss their mining strategy, including a possible investment from EDF in the mining division of Areva, whose valuation problem. As for GDF Suez, which wants to grow in importance in the French nuclear industry, the group should also focus on getting its game in the middle of negotiations.

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