Daily International Headlines

The meeting begins on a positive note on Friday, the Paris Bourse. At the opening, the CAC 40 climbed 0.46% to 3845.99 points. Investors follow the general optimism of their Asian counterparts. For the final session of the week, they have opted for green, morale boosted by the announcements by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. This provides 8% growth in China in 2010 and confirms that the measures of government support to the economy. There is also a possible easing of monetary policy in Japan.

Yesterday, markets were not welcome U.S. statistics which indicated a relapse of the promises of home sales in January. But unemployment figures better than expected (the number of newly unemployed fell during the week ended February 27, with the deposit of 469,000 new claims for benefits) were eventually lighten the mood.Wall Street had also increased its earnings from these ads, pushing the French investors to reconsider their position.

This Friday, the Paris Bourse waiting 12 hours to figure orders from companies in Germany for the month of January. Then the United States will be published by the Department of Labor, the highly anticipated monthly report on employment in February. After Market (in 21 hours), the U.S. figures reveal consumer credit.

Areva and Veolia in the spotlight

Veolia Environnement (-0.10% to 24.98 euros) said before market in 2009 have recorded a turnover of 34.55 billion euros, down 3.4% on year, down slightly higher than expected (-2%).Net profit after minority interests amounted to 584.1 million euros, which therefore shows an increase of 44% over one year and beyond expectations (35%).

Areva issued after market close Thursday, a 2009 operating profit up 20% to 501 million euros. The turnover showed an increase of 6.4%, to 14 billion euros and net income group share for 552 million euros (-6.3%). The group has mainly confirmed its profit goals for 2012. In addition, the Department of Energy reported that U.S. demand for Areva to obtain two billion dollars of guarantees on credit advanced. The title climbed 1.32% to 350 euros.

NicOx announced Thursday a net loss of 60.4 million euros in 2009, cons -73.9 million euros in 2008. Revenues NicOx stands at 1.1 million euros at December 31, 2009 against 3.4 million million a year ago.The Exchange welcomes the news: the title won 4.05% to 6.016 euros.

The rest of the news companies, excluding results announcements

Side of EADS (+1.44% at 15.87 euros), Madrid has proposed the transfer of filled related to the A400M UK to Spain if London does not take 100% sharing additional costs of military transport aircraft, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The banking sector is also under surveillance. The bankers were again summoned to the Elysee Palace on Friday for a working meeting with Nicolas Sarkozy on the theme of financing for SMEs and SOHO. The reaction of BNP Paribas (0.69%), Credit Agricole (+0.84%) and Societe Generale (0.79%) is expected.

Casino (+0.10% at 60.49 euros) should start in May its pods, modeled on that of Nespresso.In France, the market for coffee pods is estimated at 1 billion euros, half for Nespresso.

Natixis (0.71% 3.68%) is under the radar of the AMF. A book published Thursday reveals that the former officers have disclosed false information to markets, in October 2008.

A hasty return to Australia of Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank in Europe, leaks to the press revealing a plan to aid in Athens … The financial markets were very well received this information. The risk premium on debt Greek, very high, has dropped. The price of insurance on the risk of default by the Greek state (CDS) has dropped 80 points to 340 points, according to Markit. Other countries covered by the contracts, Portugal, Spain and Ireland have followed the same trend.

With the prospect of EU aid plan for Greece, investors seem to have got what they asked for a few weeks. As Financial Times columnist Wolfgang Münchau summed up the mood of investors in early February, calling for "an exit strategy of crisis.""The Summit of Heads of State (which takes place on Thursday, editor's note) must tell the world that the EU resolves its own problems teletrak no payday loan ".

Note however the risk of inaction. Given these expectations, "the disappointment is guaranteed Friday morning at the issue of top European strategist anticipates that London is not growing at the sudden appearance of an" economic government "of Europe.

There is still a good reason to see lower the risk premium on debt Greek says the analyst. Athens has in fact presented Tuesday a new set of measures to reduce deficits. Namely: the introduction of new taxes on income, more details on the freeze and declining civil service salaries and the pension reform, a tax on property owners."Even the Orthodox Church will be subject to this tax," says the strategist. This shows the willingness of the Greek state.

Statistics mixed and disappointing in November in the United States. Consumer spending rose for the second consecutive month, gaining 0.5% on month, after rising 0.6% in October, according to statistics published Wednesday by the Commerce Department.

Although most economists expecting the continuation of consumption suggests an acceleration of growth on the end of the year, confirming the rebound of 2.2% in the third quarter.

The increase in consumption was accompanied, in November, the fifth consecutive increase in household income at 0.4%. Although this is the largest increase in this indicator since May, it remains below expectations (+0.5%).

Despite this more favorable context, the real estate market continued its descent into hell, touching its lowest level since April.Sales of new homes have plummeted 11.3% in November to 355,000 units annually. A very unpleasant surprise to economists, who expected 440,000 sales. To make matters worse, the figures for October were revised downward, to 400,000 units against 430,000 previously estimated.

Surprise drop in industrial production in October. It fell again by 0.8% after falling 1.2% in September. From his side, manufacturing production also decreases by 0.8% after declining 1.1% in September. Despite everything, the good performance observed in August saved the furniture: over the last three months, manufacturing output rose 2.6%. Over this period it has observed a strong rebound in metal and other metal products (+7.4%) and in automobiles (+14.1%). It has also increased in the manufacture of rubber products, plastic and other nonmetallic mineral products (+4.1%), manufacture of machinery and chemicals (4%).

However, through the last two months, rather bearish, suggesting that the destocking process finds no link with a recovery in demand.In addition, manufacturing output last three months is 10.4% lower production in the same month last year, which is hardly pleasing. "The truth is that no demand: our exports, especially to our neighbors in the European Union, are crumbling and the investment in the country continues to decline" Analysis and Alexander Law.

The situation in the automotive sector and is symptomatic. Despite a sharp increase in registrations due to the scrapping bonus, production slowed significantly in September in October, with a 5% drop in production in October, itself resulting from a fall of 8.1% in September. After a period of destocking, manufacturers are reluctant to turn back to their full production lines, especially with the planned termination of premiums.

The ISP has been created by the government in late 2008. It is owned 49% state and 51% by Caisse des Depots et Consignations. With 20 billion euros of capital, announced its objective is to develop French firms in terms of growth and competitiveness. On this point, some investments are discussed. Its scope is as follows: enter capital firms involved as a minority without trying to take control. Then accompany the medium-long term while seeking profitability to finally get out as soon as the financial health of society will be improved and that its shareholders have been reconstructed. In a year of existence, it became a capital of 14 companies, and promised to take stakes in four other companies.The sequence of dates for achieving such equity.

February 25, 2009:

The ISP has acquired a stake in Valeo to 24 million euros which provides 11% stake in the automotive supplier. He becomes the second largest shareholder.

April 14, 2009:

He completes his entry to the capital of the aerospace supplier Daher up to 65 million euros. Daher, Socata has taken over at Airbus has launched the construction of a new plant in Nantes for the manufacture of advanced aircraft structures.

April 28, 2009:

The FSI between capital Farinia Group, a leading French processing of metals, up to 20 million euros.

02 May 2009:

Between the capital of the company to Led Lite, specializing in the field of lighting based on high brightness LED for 2 million euros.

June 26, 2009:

The ISP releases 10 million euros for the company 3S Photonics, an SME in Ile-de-France is a leading global electronic components for telecommunications networks.

1st June 2009:

He pays 160 million euros to the U.S. TPG Capital to buy him 8% of the French specialist in smart cards, Gemalto.At present, this remains the biggest investment made by the ISP.

July 6, 2009:

It acquires 5% stake in Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry following the acquisition of shares in the market for 58 million euros.

July 20, 2009:

The brand toys Meccano announces fundraising of 4.4 million including 2.2 from the ISP via CDC companies.

July 22, 2009:

Frey News Energy, a company generating electricity from renewable energy sources, announced a fundraising of 15 million euros, of which 7 million euros from the ISP.

09 September 2009:

The ISP has crossed the threshold of 5% stake in Technip following the stock market for 90 million euros.

1st October 2009:

The fund participates in the capital increase Forenap group, specializes in pharmaceutical research in neuroscience, to the tune of 6 million euros.

06 October 2009:

He participated in the recent capital increase of Groupe Carbone Lorraine to now hold more than 5% by injecting 10 million euros.

October 22, 2009:

The ISP is investing 7.5 million euros in Dailymotion, one of the leading sites for sharing videos.

November 18, 2009:

It provides 25 million euros in biotech company NicOx, and thus takes possession of 5.1% of its capital.

In the coming weeks:

The fund will pay 10 million euros in Mecachrome as part of a recovery plan and 10 million euros over the proposed takeover of manufacturer and automotive supplier Heuliez.It will invest a maximum of 117 million euros in capital increase of Cegedim. The ISP will thus have a shareholding of approximately 15%. He is also preparing to inject 6 million euros in Avanquest Software, a French manufacturer of consumer software business and also as part of the capital increase planned for early 2010.

The ISP has also carried out a series of reinvestments in the amount of nearly 10 million euros to accelerate the development of companies of which he became a shareholder in the context of the contributions made by the Caisse des Depots et Consignations.

After a year in 2009 under the sign of restraint on wages, what does the year 2010? "The care and attention are always placed in businesses," said Fanny Potier-Koninckx, principal at Towers Perrin and responsible investigation "Outlook 2010 in terms of pay, which is published today.

This is Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris, which has reignited the debate. In a letter to Eric Woerth November 17, he "drew attention" of the budget minister on charges that the state charges the communities for the collection of local taxes and he wants to be "put an end to a situation unsound. "

To understand what it is exactly, we must consider the complex relationships that are formed between the state and municipalities, counties and regions in the field of taxation. The tax, at Bercy, is responsible for the communities of calculation and collection of the housing tax, property tax and business tax (TP). In exchange, the state gets a share of local taxes paid by households and firms, namely 4.4% of the amount for "cost of assessment and recovery.Moreover, the State takes a second "commission", set at 3.6% local tax (excluding tax housing the primary residence). These "adjustment costs and non-values". By what justification does it? By the fact that when a taxpayer pays a tax less burdensome than the regular rate because, for example, its low-income (and therefore entitled to relief), the State compensates for this shortfall to municipalities, counties or regions. Overall, with these two committees, 5 billion leave the funds in the state and communities and beyond. In a region like the Côtes-d'Armor, costs were 12.24 million in 2008 out of local taxes of 169 million, a levy of 7.2%.

Inextricable relationship

In Paris, the bill reached 185 million in 2008 and 215 in 2009, a levy of 6.4%.And most importantly, after its mayor, "the total amount collected from taxpayers Parisian clearly exceeds the costs actually incurred by the State for these operations." Bertrand Delanoë supports its contention on the last annual report of the Court of Auditors, which denounces billing on the first commission. At 4.4%, the costs of assessment and recovery are very remote from the actual costs of administration for the State, the Court amounts to 1.75% on property taxes. In 2006, an audit report of modernization precisely estimated these costs at 1.9% for property taxes to 3.86% for the housing tax and 0.9% for TP. "The State communities overcharged 1.3 billion euros a year," says rebels on the Assembly of departments of France (ADF).

Nevertheless, the Court of Auditors in its report explains that the Second Committee, on the rebates … is it under-billed.At Bercy, it says the same thing and adds that overall, the balance is negative: "The state pays 16 billion of relief to communities and supports 2 billion cost management. But it only pulls 5 billion of total costs. "

On the community side, this argument makes leap. "The government will decide on tax concessions. It is normal that the state compensates us! "Storm-t-on to the Association of Mayors of France (AMF).

Reforming the business tax may resolve this dispute. To compensate for the loss of revenue, local governments should recover 2.1 billion cost of assessment and recovery. The cursor could even climb to the Senate. Finally, the only gain nothing will … taxpayers.

"Sarkozy denounces the" fiscal insanity "in regions

The European car still recovering. In a statement released Monday, the rating agency Fitch believes that 2010 will be a "transition year" for the sector, despite the appearance of "early signs of stabilization." But the number of bankruptcies in the sector should also remain high in 2009, provides for the rating agency.

Fitch anticipates that the impact vehicle sales in Western Europe will shrink in 2010, and that this decline could reach 6 or 8%. The rating agency predicts that by 2009 the decline in sales will reach 5%, and that production will open in fall of 20% over the same period.

The rating agency gives such a negative outlook because of the gradual but planned, the premium breaks that currently boosts sales.The impact of the disruption of these measures remains difficult to quantify, especially in Germany, "the largest car market in Europe where about one million vehicles were sold under these incentives," says Fitch. Emmanuel Bulle, Director in Fitch motor, said that uncertainty: "Based on sales growth and the actual ability of manufacturers to meet all these challenges, a stabilization of the ratings outlook could arise in the first half of 2010."

Increased pressures on cash

The sales momentum is indeed not the only challenge facing the sector. The issue of financial strength will also return to the front of the stage, including OEMs, Fitch said in another note."In the absence of specific operations, such as increases in capital or asset sales, abandonment of leverage will be a slow process for companies falling into recession with a substantial financial debt, as Renault, "the statement said. The manufacturer is rated "BB with negative outlook" when rival SAP is rated "BB +, B, with negative outlook."

Given these financial pressures, "the agency expects the trend to selective alliances and partnerships will continue into 2010, as well as downsizing discrete and gradual, which are necessary to support a structure lower cost, more in line with forecasts of declining sales.

Automakers will also adapt to new consumer needs.Fitch notes that "the trend towards smaller cars is another challenge for manufacturers of Western Europe, focused on technology, while margins are generally larger segments for vehicles and premium sedans. "No matter the size! Some prefer to bet on another emerging trend of consumption, mindful of its impact on the environment: Renault intends to become the largest producer of electric cars, since the launch of its first four models of its kind in 2011.

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