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It's now official, EDF has announced a delay for the EPR Flamanville, in the Channel. Delaying the start date of the reactor is two years "the goal of the first marketable production is now set to 2014," says management.

And the cost of construction is "re-estimated at around five billion euros," confirms the group. So far, the construction of 3rd generation reactor was estimated at four billion euros.

According to Jack Tord, coordinator CGT on the site, this would involve additional time to recruit more staff on site.The staff, already brought to 3,000 employees, "should reach 3500 to the end of the year or early next year," said he.

The management of EDF had implicitly recognized in November 2009 after a delay of one year, distinguishing between the engine start, in 2012, and "production of electricity sold, set up in 2013.

A delay not surprising

Delays in the EPR Flamanville are regularly mentioned in the press. In January, Le Figaro and Les Echos mentioned already "at least two years late" for a cost of 5 billion euros.Thursday, Le Monde and Le Parisien also evoked a start in 2014, against 2012 under the original schedule.

CGT refers to EDF for several months delay of this order, the Paris-based delegates arguing two years late and those of construction Flamanville a year and a half.

Credibility of the EPR

In a report released Tuesday by the Elysee Palace, the former boss of EDF Francois Roussely called to urgently establish a "priority action plan" to "ensure the construction of the nuclear Flamanville 3 in the best conditions cost and time.

Objective, preserve the credibility of the maximum EPR model and "the ability of the French nuclear industry to achieve new power plants were built, after the difficulties encountered on the Olkiluoto site in Finland and that of the third installment of Flamanville.

Construction of the EPR at Olkiluoto in Finland, led by the Areva group, accuses the four years behind its original schedule, with a reactor startup scheduled for late 2012 or early 2013.

Areva has spent 2.7 billion euros of provisions in its accounts for the site, while the cost of the EPR was initially estimated at 3 billion euros.

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The law is clear: each person can have only one tax-free booklet, A book or booklet blue. But who knows exactly where his grandparents do not stock a book to his name between the sheets of the linen closet? The Observatory of regulated savings admits that part of the 60 million books is linked to "a significant number of cases" of multidétention the booklet by the same investor. This situation existed even before the normalization of the Livret A, but increased with distribution efforts led by banks such as Credit Agricole and Societe Generale. "I have two savings books, but my savings bank refuses to close one that depends on it," says an investor.

The government, aware of the significant risk of slippage, had threatened the special penalty ": a fine on 2% of the outstanding or additional booklets had been provided by the Act of August 4, 2008. At this stage, however, no penalty has been applied, we recognize the Bank of France. To punish, would it still have the ability to distinguish between the intentional fraud and unintentional multidétenteurs No checking account payday advance."The computerization of some later historical networks did not facilitate the long-term management of these booklets, which have long shelf life support equipment," says the report, acknowledging that fiscal controls "remained limited in scope."

A central

Since the reform of the distribution of the Livret A, efforts are being made to remedy this situation. A central recency bank accounts in France, but it is still not an accurate picture of the holders of tax-free books. Each account is opened or a booklet, the banks have the obligation to consult. These planchent services of the State to establish the second half of 2010 an effective due diligence. "The process is complicated to implement, it is done gradually," said a representative of the Observatory of regulated products.Meanwhile, the Ministers of Economy and Budget have written twice to banks to encourage them to ensure the right information to their customers. What encouraged them to regularize their situation.

Three months after British Airways and its Spanish partner, Iberia announced their marriage, the Commission gave its green light to the merger that will create the world's third largest airline. In a statement issued Wednesday, Brussels ruled that the merger would not impede competition in Europe. "The business of British Airways and Iberia overlap in the field of air transport of passengers and cargo and ground handling ASSISTRA and MRO," the statement said. He added: "Passengers will therefore have more choice of appropriate flight on these routes after this merger."

The merger between Iberia and British Airways which will see shareholders of British Airways take 55% of the new group should be completed by the end of the year.It is subject to approval by shareholders of both companies, who need to vote at general meetings scheduled for November.

The two companies will consolidate into a new holding company, which will be named Consolidated Airlines International Group SA, or International Airlines Group for short, and will be listed in London and Madrid.However, the two companies continue to operate independently and continue to operate under their existing brands.

Yes also for the alliance Iberia / BA / American Airlines

One remaining obstacles to the merger had been raised when Brritish Airways announced it had reached an agreement to cover the deficit of 3.7 billion pounds (4.4 billion euros) of its pension scheme.

The European Commission also approved the alliance as British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines want to build on the model of what makes Air France-KLM and Delta, recently associated with Alitalia."Today's decision will allow airlines to set up the transatlantic alliance to which they aspired for a long while allowing some 2.5 million passengers between London and New York as well as other relevant routes of continue to enjoy a range of frequencies and competitive prices, "commented Commissioner Joaquin Almunia competition.

The CAC 40 starts the week without much conviction. At the opening, the benchmark index of the Paris Stock Exchange climbed 0.23% to 3562.70 points. At midterm, the ACC symbolically advance of 0.05% to 3556.08 points.

This morning, Asian markets have chosen a conservative increase in the wake of the positive closing of Wall Street Friday. U.S. markets ended the week on a fourth consecutive session progress (0.57%).

The LSE is also a timid step forward, the Footsie index gaining 0.16% to 5141.10 points. The DAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange climbs on his side of 0.14% to 6073.75 points.

In Paris, the stock reached Friday to keep the threshold of 3,500 points, allowing the benchmark index of snatch 6% in five days. On Monday, investors will try to keep this momentum. The meeting, however, looks very calm on the side indicators.The markets have learned before market that current account deficit had settled in France to 4.5 billion euros in May, from 2.9 billion in April, seasonally adjusted data.

The rest of the week will be loaded, the U.S., several interesting publications such as the budget (Tuesday), sales information (Wednesday), registration weekly unemployment (Thursday), or the index of sentiment consumer (Friday).

Caution is also placed on the European stock exchanges should begin when the ball Publications overseas payday loan lenders.From Monday, Alcoa will launch the festivities with the results of its second quarter.

Zodiac rejects the advances of Saffron

As for values, the supervisory board for Zodiac (4.31% to 41.50 euros) announced Sunday that he would not pursue a business combination proposal made by Safran.

Alstom (-0.89% to 38.35 euros) was applying for the construction of four stations on the route high-speed rail that will link Jeddah to Mecca, said Sunday the company to Saudi Railways ORS .

Carrefour (-0.27% to 34.50 euros) is to publish its second quarter results on July 15 after the close of trading.Analysts already expect a turnover of 24, 78 billion euros (+5.7%) including 10.29 billion in France (+1.6%) and 5.18 billion (-0.6% ) in hypermarkets.

Cameo (0.61% to 162 euros) announced Friday for the second quarter decreased by 11.3% of its sales, surface and currency comparable because of the lag of a week of dates on balances as of June July. The turnover for this period amounted to 190.2 million euros, up 1.1% on published data.

Total (-0.42% to 38.14 euros) have launched legal proceedings to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal of Douai to force him to reopen his site Dunkirk.

A symbolic announcement just days before the opening of the G20 summit in Toronto. The People's Bank of China, the Chinese central bank, announced Saturday that it had decided to continue the reform of the mechanism of the exchange rate of the renminbi (yuan's other name) in order to "increase the flexibility .

"The world economy is recovering gradually. The recovery and rebound of the Chinese economy is increasingly confirmed, leading to greater economic stability, "argued the central bank in a statement published in English on its website. "It is therefore advisable to take the reform of RMB exchange rate."

Since summer 2008, the yuan has remained stuck at around 6.83 against the dollar, fluctuating within a very narrow margin vis-à-vis the greenback.A contentious issue between China and its trading partners, most notably the United States, who believe that the yuan is undervalued, allowing Beijing to sell its products for export at very competitive prices.

In a letter to heads of State and Government of the G20 on Friday, President Barack Obama had given the record of the yuan on the table, a reference to it. "I also want to stress that exchange rates determined by the market are essential to global economic vitality," he wrote in his letter.

China has always rejected international pressure. The Deputy Foreign Minister, Cui, had also insisted on Friday that the issue of the yuan would not be up for discussion G20 payday loan companies. "The renminbi is the currency of China.This is not something that the international community needs to discuss, "he told a joint press conference with Zhang Tao, head of international department of the Central Bank.

A move immediately welcomed

Announcing this on Saturday continued reform of the yuan, the central bank has focused on "China's efforts to encourage a global rebalancing. The institution has admitted that the "special policy" introduced by Beijing in the heart of the global financial crisis had perhaps more reason to be in a context of economic recovery, but recalled however that "the stability of the yuan has played a major role in mitigating the impact of the crisis, which has contributed significantly to the recovery in Asia and the world.On the other hand, the central bank has insisted that the gradual return to a flexible exchange rate of the currency does not mean "great changes or major changes, namely a re-evaluation.

The gesture was appreciated nonetheless. Timothy Geithner, U.S. Treasury Secretary, said in a statement that the reform of the yuan could make a "positive contribution" to global growth. "We welcome the decision by China to strengthen the flexibility of its exchange rate," he said. The Director General of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn also found that Beijing's decision was "very encouraging".

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If it does not take the bull by the horns, Japan will end as Greece. The policy speech delivered yesterday by the new Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, before Parliament is clearly intended to create a shock.

"Like the problems in the euro area caused by Greece, there is a risk of collapse if we do nothing against the rising public debt and consequently lose the confidence of bond markets," Has he said. Japan's debt exceeds 200% because of GDP (gross domestic product) and threatens to reach 246% in 2014, according to the IMF.

In reality, there is no chance that the archipelago is found in the situation in Athens, since this debt is 95% owned by Nippon investors and long-term rates remain very low, but feared the reaction of Tokyo rating agencies.Last January, Standard and Poor's downgraded the rating of its long-term debt from "stable" to "negative".

Naoto Kan, who can count on the support of 61.5% of the population, according to a poll conducted Wednesday, draws a line over ten years of economic policy that has led the country to choke.

He wants to go fast and run a complete overhaul of the tax system by initiating a national debate beyond partisan barriers "to ensure the support of the opposition. The economic recovery of the archipelago, with an annualized growth of 5% in the first quarter, giving him the means.

Deflationary

But this reform is likely to be painful because it requires an increase in VAT, currently at 5%, one of the lowest in developed countries. Can not kill it in the bud the recovery of consumer confidence recorded in five months? "I do not think so.The VAT could double, but that should not weigh. When households are too indebted state, they are slowing their purchases. If they have a visibility they consume more, "said one investment banker in Tokyo. He added that such measures can help break the spiral of deflation, which, "by dint expect further declines in prices affects consumption."

The government, which wants to reduce unnecessary government spending, is preparing in parallel to reduce the corporate tax, which at 40%, is one of the highest of OECD countries. This would allow companies to offer cheaper products, thereby reducing the impact of the tax increase on consumption.

"It's courageous," says a French financial analyst living in Japan.And Naoto Kan, for once, can rely with confidence on the new Minister of Finance, Yoshihiko Noda, firm believer in fiscal discipline.

Only downside, the prime minister can not deny the social promises made during the campaign of his party. But they are expensive. The only allowance for children continuing their studies, launched in the spring and intended to fight against the declining birth rate, represents 45 billion euros per year. And the Minister of Social Affairs, Akira Nagatsuma suggests it could take another form as a cash payment to families. But "when we preach the rigor of educational way, the Japanese understand perfectly," decide the investment banker, who took the gamble that the revolution Kan prevail.

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.

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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"Dust volcanic paralysis airport dangerous for the economy." The Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CGPME) became concerned Monday that could have consequences for European sky empty of planes. Dramatization? CGPME quick to point out a little further in his text that only SMEs "whose activity is immediately dependent on air transport" are currently affected.

If paralysis continues, the slow recovery of the economy will she threatened? "If this situation persists, all French SMEs encounter difficulties," worries CGPME. Everything depends on the duration of the flight ban imposed much of European airspace. "The problem is simple: the shock will be there temporarily or not?" Says Philippe Waechter, head of economic research at Natixis."For now, all this is annoying but does not call into question the economic recovery."

"A crisis of this type can be analyzed as attacks or an outbreak, however, significant events that have little overall economic impacts," said Nicolas Bouzou for its part, an economist at Aster. Especially since the paralysis of European airspace should not have a huge impact on trade between Europe and the rest of the world, according to the Economist: "80% of goods moved by boat. And the businessmen will still meet in videoconferencing payday loan instant. "

Attacks and pandemic

The situation is somewhat reminiscent of the paralysis attacks of Sept. 11, which at the time, had greatly affected the airline."This event has changed the behavior vis-?-vis the air, but the current environment is extremely different," relativize Philippe Waechter. "Today, if the ban is lifted, all restarts as before." September 11 has also not necessarily have any impact on the economy, beyond transport. "It is very difficult to detect traces of attacks on the World Trade Center on economic growth," said Nicolas Bouzou.

More recently, influenza H1N1 has raised fears the worst. Especially because of the flight ban could be decided to limit the spread of the virus. The worst-case scenarios developed while anticipating a decline in U.S. GDP by 1.5% year over year. Impact due to paralysis of all types of transport, the cancellation of sporting and cultural events and absenteeism rates of about 30 to 40% in companies.In comparison, the ash cloud would block more than 150,000 French nationals abroad. For a limited time.

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"Economic consequences cascade

"Volcano: expected improvement by the end of the week

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