Archive for the ‘world’ Category

Stock Exchange: Lisbon unscrews, Athens rises

April 28, 2010 - 3:16 pm Comments Off

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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PSA and Mitsubishi signed a new partnership

April 27, 2010 - 12:00 pm Comments Off

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 Total is indicted for corruption

April 6, 2010 - 1:20 pm Comments Off

A first for a group of ACC 40.Total was indicted on 27 February by the French judge Serge Tournaire, corruption, complicity and concealment of influence peddling in the case called "oil-food cons", echoing the UN program established in 1997 for the Iraqis, when the international embargo following the invasion of Kuwait.

After the setbacks in terms of image for Total, with Erika – Total was sentenced on appeal to pay 375,000 euros – and AZF, this attack could further extend the negative perception of the French vis-?-vis the oil group .

A decision "incomprehensible"

The investigation started in 2002 had directed to various French personalities suspected of having distributed the early 2000s kickbacks to members of the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein that the group continues to source barrels of oil outside the framework imposed program of the UN oil-food cons.

Several officers and employees of the group had been indicted personally since 2006. But this time, it's Total as corporation that is under no faxing pay day loans.

"This decision (of indictment of the Total Group, NDRL) recommence the proceedings," said Master Veil, the lawyer of Total, has told AFP the date of the indictment, and thus confirmed information from the newspaper Les Echos."The judge took this decision against all odds, while his predecessor and the prosecution had held the contrary, at least implicitly," he added, saying the indictment "incomprehensible."

Total will watch his side surprised by this indictment, which "comes eight years after the commencement of the trial, with no new element has been placed on file," according to Les Echos.

Indeed, Serge Tournaire succeeded Xaviere Someone who had requested a non-place for all employees and former employees, and the boss of Total, Christophe de Margerie. In addition, Total said that "the report Volker independent commission of inquiry established by the United Nations had rejected any complaint of corruption."

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Daimler-Renault agreement imminent

March 27, 2010 - 11:41 pm Comments Off

In discussions for several months, Renault and Daimler could seal the alliance next month. Reportedly, Renault convened April 6 board of directors on this extraordinary subject. Y will be referred to the amplitude of the partnership between the two groups and an exchange of shareholdings which reach a symbolic level of around 3% of the capital, the Financial Times.

The holding of this board proves both that the proposed partnership is strategic and that Renault wants to make a quick decision. The aim is to announce in the wake to shareholders of Daimler and Renault, whose general meetings held respectively on 14 and April 30.

A partnership on small cars appears to be established."We saw no fundamental obstacle that would prevent an agreement", said earlier this month Dieter Zetsche, head of Daimler, maker of Mercedes and Smart. Both groups were formalized in late 2009 for discussions on small cars. He would share components between models Renault, the successor of the Mercedes A and B and the Future Smart, and even create a common platform to both manufacturers for smaller models. The agreement would also cover vehicles and electric utilities. This would allow Daimler, which has lost a lot of money with its smart, make economies of scale crucial.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault, has never hidden his willingness to open the Renault-Nissan Alliance in a third partner, bad credit payday advance . Objective: "search for additional synergies.The owner of the mark in the Diamond does not believe the alliance cooperation without capital, only "a symbol that the relationship is long term." "It is difficult to ask the engineers of two competing companies to share fully their skills without the link," said he.

Participation Nissan

The Japanese Nissan, which Renault owns 44%, could also be part of the agreement with Daimler. According to the Nikkei, Daimler would provide bigger engines to Nissan, which in turn would make electric cars and batteries to the German group."If Renault signs an alliance with Daimler extent, I suppose Nissan will join the alliance," said a Nissan executive quoted by the Japanese newspaper.

An equity cross between Renault and Daimler mean that the obstacle of the valuation gap between the two groups (10 billion euros to 37 billion French and in German at the current rate) has been bypassed. To simplify things, Daimler would provide the 3.5% it owns in his own group, according to Bloomberg. Finally, the merger could also speed the withdrawal of Renault in Volvo AB, the truck manufacturer with the French group holds 20%.

Beginning of the strike at British Airways

March 21, 2010 - 1:53 am Comments Off

This is the first known strike British Airways for 13 years. Its cabin began Saturday a strike should significantly disrupt air travel in the United Kingdom during the next three days, after the failure on the eve of negotiations between the company and the union Unite. Approximately 1100 of 1950 BA flights planned over the three days will be canceled. British Airways hopes anyway, filling its planes at best, Saturday and Sunday carried 49,000 passengers on 75,000 for a regular weekend of March, up 65%.

Thousands of members of Unite, the first British trade union, launched the movement to midnight Friday, hours after a failed final attempt to reconcile the co-general secretary Tony Woodley of Unite and the Director General Company Willie Walsh.The conflict includes the company's decision to abolish the post of cabin crew on fifteen on the long-haul flights, and wage claims of employees. Unite has rejected a deal of 4 years, he said, returning to freeze wages until 2014.

At Heathrow, the world's first airport for international traffic, over 60% of long-haul but only 30% of short-and medium-haul should be provided on three days. At Gatwick, London's other airport, the traffic would be normal for the long haul, and operate at 50% for short and medium haul. Picket lines were in place Saturday morning in many UK airports.

The movement would resume next Saturday

Unite represents 12,000 members of cabin crew for British Airways instant payday loan .According to the union, early indications seemed to show that the movement was widely followed, although the direction of BA had threatened the strikers they remove a number of benefits gained.

British Airways seems better prepared than during the conflict in January 2007, when the strike had been canceled at the last minute. She claims to have found a thousand volunteers from among its cabin crew to fly up Monday and have it properly trained. Sixty other companies have agreed to take on their flights by British Airways customers. The move, which comes just a few weeks of parliamentary elections expected May 6, will last until Monday included initially.But he could resume next Saturday for four days, if no solution is found in the meantime.

After negotiations failed, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has missed a strike that is' in nobody's interest "and will" cause unacceptable inconvenience to passengers. " He called it "should be lifted immediately" and that union and management "to meet without delay." Co-Secretary Tony Woodley of Unite said he was disappointed that no agreement had been reached. For his part, Willie Walsh has appeared in a video posted on the site of his company and on YouTube, to say "deeply sorry" and call this day "terrible for the company." This move is embarrassing for the Labor government, Unite is the largest financial contributor of Labor.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange resumed its breath

March 19, 2010 - 5:46 am Comments Off

After gaining 1.12% on Wednesday following the announcement of the Bank of Japan to keep rates low, the Nikkei 225 closing displays a decline of 0.95% at 10,774 points. Regarding other areas, the results are mixed. Hong Kong gained 0.16% to 21,418 points, ahead of Taiwan 0.46% to 7883 points, Sydney rose 0.20% to 4863 points, Singapore climbed 0.16% to 2924 points. Conversely, Seoul lost 0.41% to 3538 points, Mumbai was down 0.14% at 17,464 points and Jakarta was down 0.28% at 2748 points.

Japanese carmaker Nissan (-0.78% to 768 yen) announced Thursday that it had retained its English site in Sunderland to assemble its new electric vehicle, the "Leaf", a decision that will keep 2250 jobs in Great Britain."The site of Sunderland reach a production capacity of 60,000 units per year," the company said in a statement, adding that production would begin early 2013 unsecured personal loans .The "Leaf" is the first public electric car that Nissan plans to launch late 2010 on the Japanese markets, U.S. and some European market, before a worldwide release scheduled for 2012.

Following the decision of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) to maintain its production quotas unchanged, crude prices falling Thursday in electronic trading in Asia, wiping out gains in New York, but remain at over $ 80.

In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for April delivery yielded 27 cents to 82.66 dollars, while a barrel of Brent North Sea for May delivery retreated 37 cents to 81 $ 59.

Citigroup makes the banking sector to increase

March 12, 2010 - 5:46 am Comments Off

The Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit is satisfied that the bank is "well positioned to return to sustained profitability." At an analyst meeting held on Thursday, the official also mentioned that the American state could sell the shares it holds in the group by one year, effective March 16 , when the state will be officially authorized to sell its shares .. 34% of capital.

On Thursday, Citigroup shares have risen again by 5.56% to 4.18 dollars. Since the beginning of the week, the securities have soared by almost 20%, pulling in their wake the whole banking sector on the rise on Wall Street.Witness the rise of the index values Bix U.S. bank, which was awarded 1.38% on Thursday on the Exchange of New York.

"The general feeling is that investors anticipate a step toward normalcy," said analysts at Briefing.com.

Citi expects 20 billion profit

End of 2009, Vikram Pandit had said that Citicorp, the bank portion of the assets comprising the most healthy and who make up the bulk of the company, had assets under management reaching approximately 1 payday advance . The completion of the transaction is expected during the next 12 months. Pending completion of the transaction, Merial and Intervet Schering-Plow continue to work independently.

The market for animal health has reached 19 billion dollars in 2008. Products for pets represent 40% of the market and 60% for animal production.The growth of this market should be about 5% per year during the next 5 years, supported by a growing demand for animal protein, and by the substantial need for care for pets.

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Arkema falls into the red in 2009

March 4, 2010 - 11:22 am Comments Off

The year 2009 was not that of chemistry as shown in the results of the Arkema Group, published on Thursday. The group announced a net loss of 172 million euros, against a profit of 100 million euros in 2008. The turnover has shrunk from 21.1% to 4.44 billion euros for an operating margin of 7%, against 8.8% in 2008.

The group saw its three channels suffer because of weak demand and reduced inventories at its customers. The vinyl products business recorded a decline in its sales to 1 billion euros against 1.443 billion a year earlier. The industrial cluster Chemistry reaping 2.109 billion euros against 2.582 billion revenue in 2008 cash advance to savings account .Finally, the last part, performance products has achieved a turnover of 1.318 billion against 1.602 billion a year ago.

In 2010, Arkema expects a "significant increase" in sales and its gross operating profit (EBITDA), which stood at 310 million euros for 2009 (-37.8%). He adds that "standard conditions", Arkema is an operating margin "greater than 13.5%" in 2014.

In early September, Arkema, a former subsidiary of Total, announced the arrest of a production line in Saint-Auban (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) with the elimination of 88 positions.

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Air France KLM is still in turbulence

February 11, 2010 - 5:44 am Comments Off

Air France-KLM fails to emerge from the fog in which she sailed past four quarters. The airline announced on Wednesday a further loss in the third quarter of fiscal shifted 2009-2010, the fifth in a row. Over this period (October to December), the group garnered a net loss of 295 million euros. This is less than the 508 million the previous year but well above the 216 million expected by analysts. The operating loss also disappointed expectations, to -245 to -194 million against expected by the market.

In the third quarter, revenue fell 16% to 5.19 billion euros. Observers had expected 5.34 billion euros."The business has shown during this quarter are some signs of recovery but in an economic environment that remains challenging," the group said in a statement.

Operating loss record throughout the year

For more, Air France KLM expects operating profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal offset "the same as that of last year" was 574 million euros. This "given the expected recovery later in unit revenues, lower capacity and an increase of about 300 million dollars from the oil bill.

This means that at this rate, the operating loss over the whole year could reach a record. Indeed, nine months, the group's operating loss amounted already to 788 million euros.Adding to the loss of 574 million harvested in the fourth quarter, the operating loss over the entire year could exceed 1.3 billion euros.

In a more distant future, Air France-KLM confirms targeting a return to balanced operations for its fiscal year 2010-11, excluding the impact of oil hedges prior to 2009. The company relies on cost reductions, "expected a slight increase in unit revenues, the implementation of medium-haul product and restructuring initiated in cargo activity.

The general environment is showing signs of improvement in the airline also confirmed the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The situation could hardly be worse than in 2009.

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