For the eighth consecutive time, the Paris Stock Exchange closed in the red. On Wednesday, the CAC 40 ended down sharply again: 1.93% to 3454.94 points. On only five days, the index lost nearly 8%. The Cac 40 was, however, limited its losses slightly in mid-session, down 0.40% to 3508.71 points. But it was not including the publication of reassuring indicator bit in the U.S..
On other European financial centers in London, the FTSE-100 ended down 2.34% to 5718.14 points, featuring Dax index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange lost 2.30% to 6640.59 Wednesday points. South exchanges, which had made a catch at mid-day, did not resist.The index featured the Milan Stock Exchange, the FTSE Eb, closed on a decline of 1.54% to 17,006 points and lindice Ibex-35 main values of the Madrid Stock Exchange ended down 0.85% at 9037 , 7 points.
Italy and Spain under pressure
The European sovereign debt and U.S. continue to weigh heavily on the trend. Yield spreads between bonds to ten years Spanish and Italian over German bonds widen. They stood at 402 basis points respectively (13 bps) and 386 basis points (12 bps). Italy and Spain are again under pressure from the markets fear a contagion of debt. Their governments are mobilizing to stem the panic even if Brussels has ruled out any discussion of a bailout for those countries.The Italian Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti and the leader of the euro zone, Jean-Claude Juncker, today concluded their discussion by considering that the reflection on the debt crisis was to continue "calmly." For its part, the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero on Wednesday convened a meeting on "market movements".
China increasingly perplexed vis-à-vis the dollar
Investors also remain worried about the strength of U.S. growth. And, although the Senate has ratified Tuesday the plan to raise the debt ceiling. Insufficient agreement by Moody's which could lower the rating of the country. The closing down sharply on Wall Street Tuesday night also confirms the markets in their choice to continue to withdraw.
China, for its part welcomed the adoption of very hard this plan.Beijing said it would continue to limit its dependence on the dollar, whereas the U.S. has failed to defuse "the bomb of debt." The rating agency Dagong China in the wake downgraded American. Wednesday morning, Asian stock markets, with the exception of Shanghai, changing all down sharply.
Still bad news in the U.S.
On the macroeconomic front, the growth of activity in the services sector continued to slow in July to register their slowest pace since March 2010.The PMI index reached 54.2 against 56.1 in June.
The same goes for the euro area and for Germany: the composite index stood at 52.5 against 56.3 respectively in June and 51.1 against 53.3 in June.
For the euro area, retail sales rebounded 0.9% in June compared to May, where they had fallen by 1.3%, said Wednesday the EU statistics office Eurostat. Eurostat revised down its initial estimate for the month of May, initially announced at 1.1%.
United States, at 14.15, the consulting firm HR ADP unveiled its traditional and highly anticipated monthly report on employment. Higher than the 100,000 new jobs expected by analysts, job creation in the U.S. private sector employment reached 114,000 in July.
In contrast, growth in the services sector in the United States recorded a surprise slowdown in July, according to the index of purchasing managers released Wednesday by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) payday loan. ISM non-manufacturing index stood at 52.7 last month, falling to its lowest level since February 2010, after 53.3 in June. Analysts on average expected a 53.6 index.
Orders for the industry fell 0.8% in June in the United States, driven down by gloom in the transport sector, said Wednesday the Commerce Department. Economists on average had expected a decline a little less strong, 0.7%. Orders were up 0.6% in May
Both have overshadowed the latest news on employment, including Wall Street, where markets remain frozen in red.
Bic flies, Societe Generale sinks
Societe Generale: -8.97% to 29.59 euros (red lantern CAC)
The bank chaired by Frédéric Oudéa posted net income down 31% to 747 million because of writedowns on loans Greek past. Greece forced Societe Generale has given up its goal of net profit of 6 billion euros in 2012.
Crédit Agricole: -6.57% to 7.47 euros
The bank said it had sold its commercial finance Eurofactor in Britain to GE Capital.
Overall, the whole banking sector has suffered: Natixis lost 3.15% to 2.92 euros, 2.98% to loose Axa 12.03 euros and BNP Paribas gives up 1.87% to 41.80 euros.
Air France-KLM: -3.21% to 7.57 euros
The airline plans to delays or cancellations of flights, from Paris, following a strike by technicians responsible for maintenance of its aircraft.
Total: -1.77% to 36.15 euros
The oil company and its CEO Christophe de Margerie were returned to correctional late July for "active corruption" in the investigation into the UN program "Oil against food" in Saddam Hussein's Iraq from 1996 to 2003 officials said a judicial source.
Danone: -0.37% to 49.32 euros
The dairy group has unveiled a proposed acquisition of 250 million euros in nutrition in India to expand into the Indian markets for infant nutrition and medical purposes.
Suez Environnement: 0.68% to 12.67 euros (largest increase in the ACC)
The group specializes in water management and waste released on Wednesday a net profit down 43% to 221 million euros in the first half. Suez Environnement, however, reaffirmed its financial targets for 2011-2013.
Bic: 3.61% to 63.72 euros (largest increase in the SBF 120)
Bic raised its growth target for the division of pens, lighters and disposable razors, to "greater than 5%" against up to 5%.Instead, the group anticipates a decline of about 10% growth for its advertising and promotional products division against 5% previously.
Hermes: -3.39% to 235.35 euros
The Association for the Defence of Minority Shareholders (Adam) wonders why the saddle spends as much to buy back its own shares, whose price has reached a new record this week, said Tuesday its president Colette Neuville.
Renault: -3.20% to 34.23 euros, Peugeot: -1.98% to 23.79 euros
American manufacturers have announced their sales figures on Tuesday night.Chrysler reported a 20% increase in sales of new cars in the U.S. in July, while Ford saw its own increase by 9%.
Accor: -2.03% to 28.23 euros
Accor announced the signing of the sale of catering group Lenôtre Sodexo following the favorable opinion of the works councils of both groups.
After-hours trading, Vilmorin and Cegedim should publish their annual turnover for the first and second quarters respectively.