Daily International Headlines

Credit Agricole took over the Cac 40. The title wins more than 6% at the Paris Stock Exchange to 6.60 euros. Investors welcomed the results of the second quarter of the group, better than expected.

In July, Crédit Agricole said that the participation of the bank in terms of aid to Greece and the operations of its subsidiary Emporiki, the country would have an impact of up to 850 million euros on its performance in the second quarter. Finally, the load is lighter than expected: Greece does not cost "only" 640 million euros on quarterly Credit Agricole. A load that is distributed as follows: 202 million euros (146 million after tax) for impairment of securities of the Greek states and 494 million for the goodwill of the Emporiki Bank (2006).However, the debt problem gecque led the market value of Crédit Agricole in a dramatic decline: its stock has lost nearly 35% of its value since the beginning of the year.

These results confirm the long-term goals

As for results, the bank has indeed announced Thursday a net profit after minority interests fell by 10.6% to 339 milion euros in the second quarter versus the same period in 2010. But this is higher than expected by analysts who had forecast a quarterly profit of 193 million euros. BNP Paribas and Societe Generale were published at the beginning of the respective benefits of 2.12 billion euros and 747 million.

According to the CEO of Crédit Agricole Jean-Paul Chifflet, these results confirm a positive underlying trend at the operational level of the bank, in the 2014 strategic plan, presented last March. The group aims to achieve a return on equity of 10% to 12% by 2014. The bank would also surpass the 25 billion euros in net banking that date.

In the medium term, Crédit Agricole has no plans to increase the capital despite the market turmoil in July and August, denied the report, published Wednesday in the Letter of expansion of 1.5 billion euros, dedicated the recapitalization of its subsidiaries in Southern Europe. However, the group recognized that its goal of returning to profit for Emporiki Bank in 2012 would be compromised.

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The denunciation was on a roll. While in Britain the government call the citizens to denounce the rioters, Greece, reports of suspected fraud to the Treasury affluent than ever. The local fraud squad has received 18,500 disclosures in 2010, against 4500 last year and 4,000 in 2008. The trend continues since 7500 reports have been recorded in the first half. In most cases, these phone calls or emails denouncing anonymous traders who have "failed" to issue receipts or the liberal professions (doctors, lawyers …) not issuing receipts.

Unpunished for decades, tax evasion is now seriously disputed by the authorities, under pressure from the EU and the IMF.In turn, the Greeks, hard hit by the austerity plans, are becoming more willing to report those who do not respect the rules of the game, however, they take care: this is almost twenty-five centuries of Athenian democracy suffered a lot of sycophants. These informers professionals who enriched themselves through their charges, have contributed to the decline of Greece.

The era of good times is over. China, which for years received lessons in economic policy by the United States, primarily relating to foreign exchange, takes revenge. While S & P has to sacrifice the triple A of the United States, Beijing, the largest holder of U.S. bonds in the world – by far, with 1,160 billion of U.S. Treasuries in the drawers according to figures from Washington published last May – now estimated to have "every right to require U.S. to address their structural problems of debt."

The Chinese government estimates that S & P has only confirmed a "horrible truth". One that was highlighted by the rating agency Dagong China, which has degraded the U.S. triple-A immediately after the agreement to raise the debt ceiling.She said "the days of Uncle Sam, crippled with debt, could easily squander endless amounts of borrowing from abroad seem numbered. (…) In order to treat his addiction to debt, the U.S. must restore the principle of common sense that we must live within its means. " For Dagong, the note of the United States increased from A + to A with, again, a negative outlook. According to the official Xinhua news agency, the adoption by Congress of a text to avoid a default of the United States failed to defuse "the bomb of debt." This failure to control U.S. borrowing could affect the "well-being of hundreds of millions of families in the United States and abroad," she lamented a few days ago.

In other countries, tempers

In France, Baroin, Minister of Economy, trying to reassure.First European official to respond to the thunder of the deterioration in the sovereign rating of the debt of the United States, he ensured that France "has full confidence in the strength of the U.S. economy and its fundamentals, and in the U.S. government's determination to implement the plan that was approved by Congress this week. "

In the UK, the British Trade Vince Cable held Saturday "completely predictable" degradation of the United States. "This is a completely predictable consequence of the mess created by Congress (…) but they (MPs) have now heard, and the situation of the United States is strong enough," he said.

Japan, the second creditor of the United States, said that its policy of buying U.S. bonds remained unchanged despite lowering their score."Our confidence in U.S. Treasuries and their attractiveness as an investment will not change because of this action," said a Japanese government official told Dow Jones Newswires. Japan, which is trying by all means to curb a flight of its currency against the greenback, has no interest in selling its dollar assets for now since it would only strengthen the yen.

In South Korea, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance held an emergency meeting Saturday to analyze the consequences of the downgrade. But the government has warned against overreaction. "We need not be too worried about our economy and financial markets," said Deputy Finance Minister Yim Jong-yong. An Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has also called for calm markets."At the same time, the other two major agencies, Moody's and Fitch continue to note the U.S. economy AAA. So I think people need to consider all the facts, "she said. In the Philippines, a spokesman for the Presidency said that the downgrade by S & P was "to some extent a wakeup call for the U.S. begin to seriously address their economic problems. We have confidence in their ability to do so. "

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Concerned about the lack of progress in negotiations on the ceiling of U.S. debt, equity markets began the session in the red. After completing the session Friday without any real conviction, the Dow Jones lost 0.51% to 12,616.64 points, the Standard & Poor's 500 index 0.84% ​​to 1333.72 points and the Nasdaq 0.94% in 2832 , 06 points on Monday at the opening.

If the euro reached an agreement, the United States they still fail to agree on the ceiling of the debt. Crucial negotiations remain stalled between the Democratic allies of President Barack Obama, the Senate majority and their Republican opponents, who control the House of Representatives.If politicians on both sides do not agree by August 2, the maximum allowed rise of U.S. debts, the government of the world's largest economy may be in default.

In Europe, since the announcement of a new device to try to save Greece and avoid contagion of debt to other countries considered fragile in the euro area, the rating agencies make known their position on the plan, the highly anticipated reactions, since some aspects of the agreement threatens to put Greece under default. According to Fitch, as of Friday, decided that Greece was in partial default, Moody's downgraded three notches this morning note the country of Caa1 to Ca, one notch from the default.

New pressures on gold

Sign of renewed concern about the market, gold, traditional safe haven climbs to new highs.The ounce has risen to over 1620 dollars, while the stalled discussions on the United States raising the ceiling of U.S. debt exacerbated the nervousness of the markets. The price of an ounce of gold rose to 1624.07 dollars on the spot market in early Asian trade, a new record.

On the foreign exchange market, the dollar is penalized. The euro is rising against the greenback to 1.4375 dollars in late morning. Oil is also down. In morning trading, a barrel of "light sweet crude" for August delivery lost 1.08 dollars to 98.79 dollars. That of Brent North Sea crude for September delivery lost 60 cents to 118.07 dollars.

First estimate of GDP for the second quarter Friday

On the macroeconomic front there is no any major indicator on the agenda of U.S. investors on Monday.Things should accelerate in the coming days with the highlight of Friday, the publication of a first estimate of growth in the United States for the second quarter, the analysts of the firm IHS Global Insight provides "very disappointing" .

Other statistics will punctuate the week.Tomorrow investors monitor the index of consumer confidence and new home sales and durable goods orders Wednesday and the economic report of the Central Bank (Beige Book) and Thursday the promise of home sales and last Friday of industrial activity in the Chicago area.

Another wave of corporate results to follow

The side of values, the U.S. conglomerate United Technologies is planning a partial sale or other "strategic options" for a subsidiary specializing in rocket engines, Rocketdyne, according to the pattern of this activity, Jim Maser, interviewed by the Wall Street Journal .

Citigrop announced the sale of Egg Banking subsidiary, specializes in mortgages and savings, UK Yorkshire Building Society, announced last Monday.

Dow Chemical has announced its formation of a joint venture named "Sadar Chemical Company" with Saudi Aramco.

For its part, Netflix is ​​in talks with DreamWorks Animation to obtain exclusive rights to its catalog of streaming movies, according to Bloomberg.

Research In Motion plunges him 1.7% after a detailed cost optimization program, which includes 2,000 job cuts.

In addition, financial publications are still very many this week. Kimberly-Clark fell back 0.4% in early trade.The manufacturer of tissue paper, has already announced that its earnings per share for the year could end up in the bottom of the expected range.

Baker Hughes said it more than tripled its earnings in the second quarter due to increased drilling activity in the United States, which has also benefited its two major competitors in the oil services sector, Schlumberger and Halliburton.

Among the values ​​of Dow Jones, the retailer Wal-Mart, the aerospace group Boeing, the consumer group 3M, DuPont chemist, or the oil ExxonMobil and Chevron.

So far, the vast majority of large U.S. companies posted higher profits than expected in the second quarter, particularly in the technology sector.

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Coincidence of timing, when the French government announced the rules for large PV installations, the producer of renewable energy Neoen and private equity investment Axa Private Equity participate in the consolidation of a growing industry but still very scattered. Neoen and Axa PE announced Monday the purchase of renewable Poweo activities. Founded by media Charles Beigbeder, Poweo is controlled by the group since 2009 Austrian Verbund. Its branch renewable 100% controlled by Verbund, is distinct from Poweo SA, the small challenger EDF is for sale. Taking advantage of the confusion, the action Poweo SA rose 18% on the stock market yesterday.

Active in offshore wind

The operation mounted by Neoen and AXA PE is around 50 million euros, according to Xavier Barbaro, CEO Neoen. The two buyers will share the assets of Green Poweo.Neoen take possession of 14 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic systems in operation in France and a portfolio of projects. Totaling 50 MW in solar and wind power and 70 MW biomass project in the state approved.

Neoen also retrieves the trash from Poweo installed in the consortium recently with EDF to meet the tender of the State on the first offshore wind

This young company, founded in 2008 in the lap of Direct Energy, is now a "sister company", sharing the same shareholder, namely Jacques Veyrat.As part of his departure on June 30 of the Louis Dreyfus, one that Robert Louis-Dreyfus regarded as his spiritual son got in exchange of its shares in the group of trading, more active and which Neoen 39 2% of Direct Energy.

Supported by its new shareholder, the small Neoen sees far. With the acquisition announced Monday, "we will double our sales power," said Xavier Barbaro. And "it is only a first step," said the leader of this company recently opened an office in Portugal for investment in solar.

Xavier Barbaro time opportunists in photovoltaics in France is over. To evolve and grow in the highly capital-intensive renewable energy, whether solar or wind, "you have to reach critical mass."

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While markets plunged Monday on fears of contagion from the debt crisis in Europe, central bankers in the euro area have attempted to reassure financial markets. "This is to resist the risk of contagion" in Italy, which seems to be the new target markets, or to Spain, and "maintain financial stability in the euro area," said the head of the Eurogroup Jean-Claude Junker.

Europe and the tent she set up a second country assistance plan, and in this context, the working group to find a solution to save the country from bankruptcy does no longer a " partial default "of Greece. A possibility ruled out by the Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos. "We want full coverage of our borrowing needs and the Greek financial system, which is part of the European financial system, he says.This coverage must be offered either by the ECB or by the Eurozone and the member states, other agencies such as the support fund. There is no alternative. "

European leaders have failed to completely reassure the financial markets. The slopes of measures that finance ministers of the euro area, launched on Monday night, increasing the size of the Emergency Fund Financial (440 billion euros) and longer-maturity loans have not convinced investors the opening of the Paris Bourse, the CAC 40 was down over 2% overnight pay day loans.

However, after announcing a special summit could take place Friday, financial markets have recovered somewhat. And the CAC 40 closed down 0.98% to 3770.21 points. "More than numbers, investors especially need a specific timetable," said Franklin Pichard, Director Barclays stock.The new Executive Director of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, has reminded European leaders the importance of early implementation of the measures promised.

The international community "can not save Spain"

The Spanish Minister of Economic Affairs, Elena Salgado, said Tuesday he was "not logical" that Spain and Italy are "affected by market volatility," because their economies are "strong and diversified. ""If we are able to transmit the determination that we all, markets should reasonably calm down," she said.

But markets, they do not see things this way: "While the international community can save Greece, Ireland and Portugal, it will not save Spain, too important contributor to the euro area" , said Monday Laurent Geronimi, director of rate management at Swiss Life Private Banking.

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The Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR) announced Friday it had postponed to August 4 decision to initiate or not an investigation of the role played by Christine Lagarde in the case Tapie.

"One of the members of the commission has indicated that he was later forced to recuse himself," said Gerard Palisse, president of the petitions committee of the Court. "The alternate member of the Court which could have us make up for his part that he himself was unable to do so immediately without prior knowledge of the case. The Committee decided to defer consideration of this matter Thursday, August 4, "he added.

The former French Minister of Economy and current executive director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is suspected of "abuse of authority" in the arbitration in July 2008 on the case Tapie, Credit Lyonnais faxless cash advance.The businessman, who felt cheated after the sale of Adidas in 1993 with Credit Lyonnais, had obtained 285 million euros of public funds.

In May, the Attorney General of the Supreme Court, Jean-Louis Nadal, asked the petitions committee of the RGC to investigate the matter. If the Court decides to initiate the investigation, it should be long and Christine Lagarde would not be considered for several years. The new leader denies IMF, meanwhile, abuse of authority in this matter and have provided "clear conscience".

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The battle to win the big contract from the French offshore wind organized. After Areva, which has partnered with the Spanish Iberdrola last week, it was the turn of EDF Energies Nouvelles to partner with a foreign group specializes in offshore wind, according to Les Echos. A subsidiary of EDF should indeed unveil Monday morning a partnership with Danish DONG Energy to meet the tender to be published July 11, the newspaper said. The tandem will try to get hold of the entire order worth a total of 10 billion euros.

The project, detailed by Nicolas Sarkozy last January after being repeatedly postponed, for the first phase is to establish 600 wind turbines with an installed capacity of 3,000 megawatts (MW) in France. By 2020, the government is a target of 6000 MW of offshore wind, or 1200 units to be built.

In detail, EDF EN and DONG Energy would create a joint venture majority owned by EDF Energies Nouvelles. This new entity will offer a special place in the Danish group in the race to the contract and will allow EDF EN to join a specialist offshore wind. In fact, DONG Energy already operates eleven offshore wind farms in Europe. The Danish group have been very courted, especially by GDF Suez.

In contrast, the subsidiary of EDF is still not present in the field of wind energy at sea, but EDF EN goes into working order. Having established a partnership with Alstom to supply him the offshore wind, he offered the services of three groups who worked on the project.

DONG Energy and EDF EN, associated with Alstom, is positioned on the five areas covered by the tender in competition with Areva / Iberdrola on two areas and three areas with GDF-Suez, Areva Vinci.Other contenders could also decline by 11 July.

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Capgemini continues its acquisitions in Western countries. After the buyback and Avantias Artesys in France and BI Consulting Group in the United States, the group specializes in IT services and outsourcing is in exclusive negotiations with the investment fund Apax Partners to acquire Operator transactional flow multichannel Prosody, according to a joint statement the two companies on Tuesday.

The operation, which could be finalized by the end of July, valuing the company at around 382 million euros, this amount also includes the acquisition price of Internet-EN LevelIP in France and Italy. Present in France, Spain and Belgium, the company achieved a turnover of 172.3 million euros and an operating margin of 15.3% published.Also specializes in cloud computing (cloud computing) and mobile services, Prosody is currently 97% owned by the fund Apax Partners and the management team guaranteed online personal loans.

Offer services that can complement Prosody Capgemini, particularly in the field of new IT services to its clients financial and public sectors, but also telecom and retail. And for the hosting of websites, the customer portfolio of Capgemini and market knowledge will enable it to continue its international development.

The acquisition, funded from net cash from Capgemini, would be accretive to the group's operating margin. The statement said it would also be accretive to earnings per share excluding operational synergies of at least 3% in 2011 and 4% in 2012.

At 9 pm, at the Paris Bourse, the title of Capgemini gained 2.07% to 38.19 euros. This is the largest increase in the CAC 40 to open Tuesday.

Monday night, Steve Jobs must have Apple's service icloud. Using a deal with record companies, the Cupertino company will upgrade its online music service iTunes. Customers can purchase their music from Apple's online store and listen to their wishes, where they are. The service called "cloud computing, or cloud computing, grow fast. This is a new revolution in computing. It is to connect to the Internet to access data and applications. Individuals no longer need to store on their PC or hard drive at home, and businesses no longer need to invest in high-performance computers.

The computer then used to open the application as a water faucet or turn on a light.Apple already offers a first service "cloud" to synchronize the network, contacts, emails and diary, from an iPhone or an iPad. The MobileMe service is very expensive (99 dollars or 79 euros per year from France).

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the graphic.

Amazon has shown the way

Google will launch this summer the free operating system for PCs, Chrome OS, designed and filmed for the cloud. "The biggest users of cloud services are already without knowing it, individuals using tools such as Gmail or Google pay services data storage from Amazon," said Lew Tucker, Director Technical cloud at Cisco.With his offensive, Apple created a new front against Google, Amazon and Microsoft.

One of the largest global provider of cloud services Amazon is the world leader in cultural services in line with an estimated turnover in this area at one billion dollars in 2010. The original idea of ​​the champion of e-commerce, which has expanded its services to music storage for individuals, was to lease excess capacity of its own "farms" of computers. "It comes down to your apartment when it is empty during the workday and when you go on vacation," says one expert. All the giants of the Web follow the lead of Amazon. In economic terms, the marginal cost is low for providers of computing power and storage capacity pay day advance. The additional revenue generated almost as much profit.For ten years, computer manufacturers, software publishers and computer services companies dream of a paradigm shift.

56 billion market

With the development of the Internet and especially because of the economic crisis, companies have converted to cloud computing. "After years of germination, cloud computing takes off. Partly for macroeconomic reasons. The crisis led all organizations to scrutinize their spending. In this context, a solution which can offer more for less is difficult to ignore, "says Ben Pring, vice president of research firm Gartner. For now, most of the market is done by software. The turnover of the software on demand is estimated around $ 11.7 billion in 2010 by Forrester Research. Today, 60% of worldwide turnover is made in the United States.But the phenomenon should spread to other countries. By 2020, the worldwide market will reach $ 56 billion, says Forrester Research.

With about 3 million business customers worldwide including one million in Europe, Google makes between 500 million and $ 1 billion in sales in the cloud. Finally, Microsoft will invest 90% of its budget on R & D in the cloud this year, said Jean-Philippe Courtois, senior vice president of Microsoft. But its sales in the area is estimated at "several hundred million dollars a year," admits a group leader. Each offers its solution. IBM, HP, Dell, Microsoft and Oracle want to use huge "farms" of servers to store and rent computing power to their customers. To this end, HP and Dell have acquired companies in the storage and data virtualization, in order to compete with VMware, a subsidiary of EMC.The market also attracts telecom giants like Cisco, Ericsson and Huawei, and specific actors, such as Akamai, Rackspace Hosting or Salesforce.

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