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Washington wants to reduce public expenditure

Barack Obama on Tuesday gave members of his Cabinet until Sept. 13 so they identify reductions of 5% of funds in their agencies and departments. That extra effort the White House to reduce spending in response to American concerns before the expected surge in debt to Uncle Sam more than 100% of GDP in 2012. However, the actual impact of this initiative looks marginal. It will only result in recommendations to Congress may be accepted for fiscal year 2012, not before. In addition, over 60% of federal spending by definition beyond these potential restrictions. These expenses called "automatic" which include debt service, expenses of the pension plan and those of public health systems.

In February, Bush has already requested a freeze for three years (after inflation) of many public spending "not automatic". But the categories have been added untouchable military spending, those relating to civilian security and international aid. But the Pentagon budget alone is $ 700 billion, or half of total discretionary spending. Moreover, the Congress, including Republicans, routinely refuses the few savings proposed by the White House in weapons programs. In point lead Barack Obama now threatening to veto the budget law drafted for the Pentagon by Congress.

Moscow is 20% of staff within

The ad has a taste for rigor, but it is not formally rigorous.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday ordered his administration to make proposals to reduce by 20% the number of officials in the country. "It is obviously, a far too severe, which can not be made mechanically or on the basis of purely financial criteria. We are talking about the fate of people, "said the head of the Kremlin, which gave no further details. Already last week, during a cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin had discussed such a proposal would lead to the removal of 120 Guaranteed pay day loans.000 positions and would save 43 billion rubles (1.13 billion euros). In contrast, half of this allocation would serve to increase the salaries of other cadres of the public.Despite the beginnings of the European crisis that could hit Russia, the government continues to boast its program of social spending that benefits particularly to retirees. In the past, such cost-saving measures have already been proposed, without being acted upon.

Germany on the wagon

Monday is a detailed history of savings – 80 billion euros by 2014 – announced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In order of priority expenditures of the federal government. Number of allocations will be scaled down and almost 15,000 jobs disappear in the civil service by 2014.The removal of 40,000 soldiers in the Bundeswehr is also under consideration.

New sections in Hungary

After his rescue in late 2008 by the IMF, the World Bank and the European Union, Hungary had announced an initial dose of austerity with a wage freeze for two years in the public and the removal of the 13th month for pensioners. Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Tuesday a detailed budget which provides, in addition to creating a financial tax, further cuts in public spending to the tune of 425 million euros. The revenue cap leaders and the public is considered a strict examination of spending to purchase a car or phone service.

Elsewhere in Europe

It is not good to be official now in Europe.Down 5-15% of wages in Ireland, abolition of 13th and 14th month and down 7% in Greece pensions, freeze wages and non-replacement of a staff of two in Portugal, wage freeze in Italy, Spain, hiring freeze in Great Britain … Besides the cuts in operating expenses that are spreading.

Malta takes a very dim view of the opening of the French market paris online and does everything to slow the process. This is the poker from the first to pay the price. Indeed, the opening to competition of the French market of online poker is postponed for one month, until late June because of an obstruction of Malta under EU rules, said the Agency France Presse (AFP) the entourage of the Department of Budget and confirming information site Challenges.fr

"We can not publish the implementation decree (for poker online) before June 28 It postponed a month because we are forced Malta, "says one with services Françoise Baroin.

A French law "relating to the introduction of competition and industry regulation of gambling and online gambling" was promulgated on May 13, followed by a dozen decrees.This legislation relates to sports paris, the paris horse and poker.

The Regulatory Authority online games (Arjel) should issue next Tuesday fifteen licenses to operators of online games, especially in order to start the paris during the FIFA World Cup (June 11-July 11 ).

Problem European procedure

The government had sent there over a year to the European Commission's draft legislation on online gaming, then notified Brussels implementing decrees, said the Budget Ministry. "Member States (EU) had three months to make their comments and Malta has chosen to do May 27", ie the last moment. France is obliged to meet in Brussels and Malta before issuing his decree. Paris now has one month to respond.

Malta, already established on the market for online games, contests a provision of the French law requiring players to register with an approved operator. This is contrary to the EU principle of free movement of persons and property.

"There is no problem on the merits. It is simply a procedural problem in Europe, as it has been commented at Bercy, stating that the grant Arjel as planned on Tuesday for its amenities paris sports, horse and poker. For the latter, many traders will await publication of the decree in late June. Still, the situation is embarrassing for the operators. Bwin, Unibet and Unibet already offer online poker. And waiting for regulatory approval to regularize their situation.

The banks have apparently not learned the lessons he's passed. While the crisis has raised among investors need for transparency and simplicity in marketing financial products, Madeleine Guidoni, mediator of the MFA, criticizes them in his 2009 report published on May 28 last, having taken their bad habits: those not well enough informed their clients about their content that sells the Fund or market products that are too complex and not meet the expectations of their customers. What about the first five months of the year 2010? "We see no obvious improvement vis-à-vis the general public," she says. The marketing of financial products was the main (67%) claim of investors in 2009, in mediations.This is why at the end of April, a common pole with the supervisory authority was created "to strengthen the control of the marketing of financial products," stated the AMF said in a statement in May last. Called Insurance Savings Bank-Info Service, will come in three forms: a website, a helpline and a mailing address that will be implemented "in the month of June," says one to the AMF.

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After a long weekend of three days, U.S. stocks ended the session sharply downward after Abor open in bright red, then climbed into the green after two good U.S. indicators.

In the end, the Dow Jones folds of 113 points (-1.14%) to 10,023 points, the Nasdaq drops 1.54% and the S & P lost 18 points to 1070 points (-1.7%). Oil, too, ended down sharply on 72.7 dollars a barrel, weighed down by a series of disappointing economic indicators in Europe and China, bad news for energy demand.

On the energy side, the sector suffers greatly (-4.3% for the sector index) of the state of BP (-14.97% to 36.52 dollars), which fails to control the flow of oil 's escapes into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico since April 20.Titles BP have lost more than 13% at the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday and 40% since the explosion of the platform.

The United States has opened a criminal investigation and civil and criminal cases to shed light on the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the explosion of a platform operated by BP, said Tuesday the U.S. Department of Justice.

Two good stastitiques U.S.

The increased activity in the manufacturing sector in the United States has slowed slightly in May, the ISM index fell to 59.7 with measuring, according to figures released Tuesday by the association. But his pace, however, exceeded expectations and the industry and displays its tenth consecutive month of growth.

Moreover, construction spending in the U.S. jumped 2.7% in April, according to official figures released Tuesday in Washington, showing up much more than expected by analysts.Economists on average had forecast an unchanged rate of expenditure after the decline of 0.3% originally announced for March.

June catastrophic better after May

Yesterday, the NYSE was closed for Memorial Day. Friday, after falling heavily in meeting Wall Street had ended the week around the equilibrium. The Dow Jones had lost up to 3% in session after the announcement of the lowering of the Spanish debt rating by rating agency Fitch has finally yielded 0.23% at closing.

The month of June begins on a note strongly negative, while the month of May had already been disastrous for U.S. and European financial centers.

The euro hit a four-year low

On the foreign exchange market, the euro is down sharply.The euro fell Tuesday to 1.2115 dollars in morning, its lowest level in more than four years against the greenback.

The currency was dragged down by a report suggesting the ECB further write-downs for banks in the euro area. According to the ECB, the need for reserves of banks in the euro area to cover potential losses amounted to 90 billion extra in 2010 and 105 billion in 2011. After dropping Friday, the euro had rebounded Monday above $ 1.23.

Prudential pressure

On the side of values, the U.S. insurer AIG (-3.19% to 34.25 dollars) on Tuesday sent a procedural bar to his British rival Prudential, which claimed to be lowered from 14% the price of selling its Asian subsidiary AIA, which could derail the transaction record in the history of insurance.

Also note, the aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. (-1.92% to 62.95 U.S. dollars) has won a tender to provide civilian aircraft to Russian conglomerate Rostekhnologuiï facing the European Airbus and United Aircraft Corporation Russian UAC.

Among the largest declines in the Dow, Alcoa is the red lantern, with a decline of 3.87% to 11.2 dollars, then comes JPMorgan Chase, which fell 2.63% to 28.54 dollars.

Only six values are listed in the green, including Kraft Foods (+1.05% to 28.9 dollars), more strongly, and Wal Mart (0.71% to 50.92 dollars).

General Motors has for its part announced its intention to invest $ 385 million in Brazil in the renovation of its existing production units. The U.S. company plans to renew the production line of a factory that manufactures Classic, Corsa and Vectra in Sao Paulo.

The Paris Bourse is scheduled to begin last week's meeting in decline, in the wake of U.S. markets worried about the difficulties in Europe – Wall Street closed down over 1% – and the Nikkei in Tokyo down the same order Friday morning.

Since the beginning of the week, the CAC 40, which replaced the European aid plan of 750 billion euros announced in the night from Sunday to Monday. Last week, the CAC 40 index had fallen more than 11%.

Thursday evening, the benchmark index of Paris has stood still while the rest of Europe has evolved disparate: Spanish IBEX fell 1.11% to 9,977 points, when the BEL 20 has folded 0.22%, to 2534 points. While the Dax frankfurt took some 1.1% to 6251 points and the FTSE in London, 0.93%, to 5433 points.

The IMF: a report on public finances G20

Today, Europe is free of major statistical.In contrast, the United States, the indices continue to rain. Are scheduled for this afternoon publication of retail sales in April, very controlled, industrial production for the same month – also highly regarded – the index of confidence from the University of Michigan for the month of May – for a forecast of economic health – and stocks and sales companies in March.

Other important events this Friday, the IMF will publish its report at 5:01 p.m. on the budget deficit and public debt G20 Fast Cash Without a hassle.

EADS net profit down 39%

The giant European aerospace firm EADS said Friday a 39% drop in net profit to 103 million euros. The A380 still weighs heavily on the performance of EADS. The group has however confirmed its objectives for the year.

For this Friday, it is the only publication of results and no presentation of turnover is expected.

However, investors will follow the evolution of Cr?dit Agricole, showered yesterday: Securities fell 3.56% Thursday evening at the closing (the largest drop in the CAC 40). The bank posted earnings of 470 million euros in the first quarter when its rivals Societe Generale and BNP Paribas are respectively reached profits of more than 1 billion euros and 2.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010.

Furthermore, the Attorney General of New York has opened an investigation into eight banks, including Credit Agricole, to determine if they had provided misleading information about their mortgages before the subprime crisis, "according to The New York Times.

EDF side, the series on electricity prices is not over.Priced at 42 euros per MWh, the price increases would be 11.4% in 2011 and 3.5% per year between 2011 and 2025, according to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Figures disputed by EDF. The government – which sets prices for electricity – and EDF belie such increase.

History! No fewer than three giants of French capitalism take their bow this spring. The vintage 2010 general meetings, which are in full swing in recent days, promises to be dominated by the departure of Presidents of Sanofi-Aventis, Total and Saint-Gobain. Jean-Francois Dehecq, Thierry Desmarest and Jean-Louis Beffa, former CEO during the course of their groups, have already sold one after the other the reins of the general direction of their dolphin. By one month, they also give up the presidency, he had kept time to pass the baton smoothly.

For a year, one quarter of the CAC 40 have experienced at their head movements, visible these days as AG. This is often an opportunity for groups to reconstruct the position of CEO, dear to the French tradition. Christophe de Margerie, and Pierre-Andre de Chalendar thus inherit full power Discount Total and Saint-Gobain.France Telecom, meanwhile, saw a rapid transition after the scandal of suicide. St?phane Richard, who took over on March 1, Didier Lombard Branch knows that it will not last: it is proposed as an administrator at the meeting of June 9, to get the Grail as CEO in spring 2011 .

Ultimately, if we exclude the Cr?dit Agricole – true to his rule called "four eyes" – and who will succeed Jean-Marie Sander Rene Carron as head of the group, the Germano-Canadian Christopher Viehbacher (Sanofi-Aventis ) is the only general managers to remain under supervision despite the departure of its president. Serge Weinberg takes effect in the torch left by Jean-Francois Dehecq, the founder of the pharmaceutical company.A matter of nationality? Last year, the board of Societe Generale had waived, under political pressure, to entrust the presidency to Britain's Tony Wyand after the resignation of Daniel Bouton. Rather than having a candidate imposed by the Elysee, the bank was then promoted its managing director Frederic Oud?a the rank of CEO and Tony Wyand placed at his side as vice president.

Vice President referent

If he returns to court, the model of the French boss is omnipotent and more often mitigated by the presence of a guardian "Jiminy Cricket" by his side. At Veolia, already, after the departure of Henri Proglio, his successor Anthony fawn followed closely since last fall by his vice-president, Louis Schweitzer. Axa similar pattern. Henri de Castries, chairman of the board so far, has certainly been converted CEO last week.But at the same time, Norbert Dentressangle, the owner of eponymous transport group, has been appointed as vice-chair, "referring independent director.

Jacques de Chateauvieux, who had succeeded to the presidency of the Executive to Claude Bebear, Axa's founder, had found himself as the structure to the Executive and Supervisory Board was not justified.

As at Societe Generale, had to adjust the statutes to give substance to this vice presidency, that does not exist in French law. Thursday, shareholders of Vinci will last for Yves-Thibault de Silguy at the podium as President. The great servant of the State, which had been called to the rescue in 2006 following the hectic departure of Antoine Zacharias, sits down on the vice-presidency. Xavier Huillard, the group general manager of concessions, makes him the scepter of CEO.A development designed to end the tensions that prevailed in Vinci.

Not easy, indeed, to live day to day relationship between a "chairman" and "CEO" in a foreign country that tradition. "France and the United States are the only countries where these functions remain separate," recalls Loic Dessaint, in Proxinvest, a consulting firm in corporate governance. In light of these latest twists, it appears increasingly that the wave of the separation of powers, meeting in the mid-2000s, showed more concern for some employers to ensure a smooth transition with a real cultural revolution. We had already seen, in 2009, Carlos Ghosn CEO of Renault erected at the term of office of Louis Schweitzer. The method remains valid.Essilor, Xavier Fontanet was withdrawn and the presidency since January 1, transmitting the general direction Hubert Sagnieres. Even the intended movement of 1 July for the specialist Veritas Geophysical GSC.

Finally, it may be tempting to take the highway in reverse, it can be expensive. Jean-Francois Roverato, CEO of Eiffage, who had time left for the operational reins back then paid dearly for this year. Its board of directors granted a renewal of his mandate for one year …

After the Athens Stock Exchange, the Portuguese market in turn undergoes the wrath of investors. On Wednesday, the Lisbon Stock Exchange appears in sharp decline. Around 11:00, Paris time, the flagship index of the Portuguese market, the PSI 20, plaice and 5.77% at 6740.38 points. This drop comes sanction decision by Standard & Poor's yesterday, degrade debt rating Portuguese, from A + to A-.

The rating agency also downgraded the debt rating Greek, she now sees as speculative ("junk bunds). As listed in the category BB + BBB + cons before, government debt is regarded as far more risky than that of Portugal, due to repayment capacity considered more tenuous. Yet the Greek market oscillates around equilibrium Wednesday morning.The main index of the Athens Stock Exchange, the FTSE / 20 Athex back slightly after gaining 0.76% to 828.63 points.According to a financial analyst in Paris, several factors explain this calm in Athens.

Psychological and mechanical effects

Investors see some first as the next allocation of aid to Greece, which should cover $ 45 billion or 55 billion, the International Monetary Fund considering to extend its contribution of 10 billion dollars, according The Financial Times.

Furthermore, "prohibiting short selling in the Greek market this morning can also cause a mechanical increase in the index, investors who are forced to buy back their positions," says financial analyst, who notes that " the Greek market has largely underperformed the European markets for several weeks. "

He also whispers in the trading rooms that some operators is positioning itself to try to take advantage of the situation.Thus, "banks can now arbitrage, borrowing from the European Central Bank (ECB) at very low rates, around 0.5%, and buying bonds Greek very profitable." The rate of Greek bonds to ten years continues to rise: it exceeded 11.076% on Wednesday morning. Until then, long yields a euro-zone countries had never exceeded the threshold of 10%.

All European markets tremble

Greece and Portugal are not the only country to see them off the gap between the rate of return on their bond and a risk free loan for the same period. Spreads of Iceland, Spain and also France's rise. In other words, investors' doubts about the creditworthiness of these borrowers are continuing to strengthen.

This lack of trust leads the major indices falling everywhere in Europe.Around 11:30 am Spanish IGBM fell by 3.41% to 1047.61 points. The German Dax drops 1.97% to 6038.22 points. In London, the FT100 was down 1.05% to 5544.91 points. In Paris, finally, the Cac 40 2.28% yield and password below 3800 points to 3757.10 points.

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They had first announced, they did. On the occasion of the Auto Show that was held last March in Geneva, PSA and Mitsubishi have confirmed that they would continue their industrial cooperation, aun when they abandoned their capital project alliance. On Tuesday, on the sidelines of the results of Mitsubishi, the two automakers announced they would jointly develop a compact 4×4 model, which will be marketed in Europe in 2012.

This vehicle is available in four-wheel and two wheel drive, and will be based on an existing model from Mitsubishi, RVR known in Japan and ASX in Europe, which will be suitable for Peugeot and Citroen brands, say the two groups said in a statement. Finally, the vehicle will be equipped with a diesel 1.6 Di Peugeot Citroen.50,000 vehicles per year and brand should be built.

The statement said that it is the fourth cooperation between PSA and Mitsubishi, after the agreement on the manufacture of all-terrain vehicles and electric, and the inauguration of a joint plant in Russia.

Mitsubishi also presented its annual results this morning. The Japanese carmaker is ironed green during the 2009-2010 fiscal year completed in late March, registering a net profit of 4.7 billion yen, or 36 million euros. It provides an increase of 31.4% of its turnover for 2010-2011.

The De Beers diamond bet on a shortage of diamonds in the long term. To prolong the life of its mines, therefore he wants to reduce its production. Such a decision could have an immediate impact on prices, with an increase of 5% according to some analysts, De Beers alone representing 40% of sales of rough diamonds throughout the world.

The world provides a stabilization of its production to 40 million carats in the next two years, against 48 million carats in 2008.The predicted shortage should be accelerated by new demand from Asian countries, including China, where these stones are very popular online cash advance.

In twenty years, no site has been discovered that can compete with the mines operated by De Beers in South Africa or that of Alrosa in Russia.

After a difficult 2009 which resulted in losses, the diamond table on profits this year, and until 2014. Some analysts see the move as a preamble to a re-IPO of the group.

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STOCK markets take a breather. In Paris the CAC 40 tumbled 1.94%, to finish the session in 4000 exactly 3 points at 986.63 points. The announcement of action against the U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs has literally showered the markets.

The indices that had evolved sawtooth most of the day were immediately plunged. Almost everywhere, investors chose to pocket their gains on the values that have risen more. In London, the FTSE fell 1.39% and in Frankfurt the Dax dropped 1.76%.

Wall Street had previously lined up six sessions was washed away.Shortly before the close of European stock exchanges, the Dow Jones slid 0.51% and the Nasdaq by 0.76%.

Goldman Sachs Sticky

The U.S. stock market watchdog, the SEC announced Friday it was suing the U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs to "fraud" on the sale of investment securities linked to subprime mortgages, called "subprime" ( see also page 21). The good news continued to flow as the business side as the economy fell into the background. Thus, the highly anticipated conglomerate General Electric, as well as those of Bank of America, the Internet giant Google, the specialist of AMD microprocessors, or the toy maker Mattel has exceeded all expectations.

Good news also on the side of macroeconomic indicators in the United States.Housing starts housing as the number of building permits issued rose more than expected in February. In Europe, the public debt remains a central concern. Greece announced Friday its intention to raise 1.5 billion euros in Treasury bills. Tuesday an initial public offering had already helped to raise 1.56 billion euros. The announcement comes as the Europeans and the IMF are finalizing the program of aid to Greece. Finance ministers from the euro zone met in Madrid on Friday for an update on the crisis in Greece. And a new mission of the IMF and the European Commission is expected in Athens on Monday.