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.

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The controversy swells daily. After the Europeans, it is now the boss of General Electric to accuse China of putting a spoke in the wheels of foreign companies. "I'm really worried, I am not sure that ultimately they want that we will succeed," he complained to an audience of businessmen from Italy, reported the Financial Times on Friday.

Last Tuesday was a report of the European Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, which accused China to increase the discriminatory measures. He denounced a "discretionary application of laws and regulations, the registration process unnecessarily complicated and" inconsistencies in the application of national criteria.

In Beijing, many business leaders say the word to cover: it is increasingly difficult to work in China."They understand that they can leave if they are not happy," says a corporate lawyer. Since April, the party newspaper, the China Daily, had sniffed the wind of revolt and was almost threatening."When foreign companies encounter difficulties in their projects (…) if they do nothing but complain that the foreign media and amplify the case without analyzing the merits and slandering the Chinese economy, they will end up delaying the process of improving the investment environment, "he wrote.

Funny way to appease the spirits when President Hu Jintao says it wants to "take concrete steps to reject any form of protectionism and unequivocal support free trade."

The World Trade Organization said in its latest report "Interest in China and its foreign suppliers of more rapid liberalization of China's service industries.But Beijing, which, in a gesture of goodwill, will leave July 15 rebates for export taxes on certain sensitive products, prefer to believe that foreigners "grunt" on account of wages.

Rising labor costs

Demonstration of support to employees of Foxconn, Hong Kong in June Photo credits: AFP

"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.

Investors should be reassured by Parisian rescue plan with Greek details, as expected, were finally unveiled this weekend. The European system, operational since Sunday, includes up to 30 billion euros in loan agreements with joint assistance from the IMF. The new fact in any case already boosted the euro. In morning trading, the euro is worth 1.3675 dollars, up 0.12% against the greenback.

On the face of macroeconomic indicators, no news likely to react to the markets is expected.Important data such as current accounts or French industrial production in the euro area, will in the coming days.

However, the quarterly publications begin Monday in France and the U.S. cash till payday. Intel, Google, Bank of America, or General Electric are expected across the Atlantic this week. The France oversee Alcoa or Atos Origin.

Values follow

In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche, the chief executive of Publicis said this weekend that the advertising investment is not expected to regain its 2008 levels by 2012.The latter also expressed readiness to re-evaluate its offer for the advertising of France Televisions, if the advertising was finally upheld.

France Telecom is in difficulty in Egypt where a court on Saturday confirmed its decision to block the bid from France Telecom on the minority of ECMS, the first mobile operator in terms of number of subscribers.

According to sources close to the deal, EADS will unveil its position on a possible bid to tender for the supply of tanker aircraft to the U.S. Air Force.

Alcoa publishes figures for its first quarter after market close in New York.

The logistics depot would employ 15 people, training centers and technical assistance in refining approximately 225. Employees will be offered 80 positions in other refineries, 30 positions in other structures of Total in France and 20 employees will be granted "for early career.

The proposed closure of the Dunkirk refinery is the source of the national strike in late February that poses the threat of a shortage of fuel.The refinery has 370 direct employees and 400 to 450 employees subcontractors.

Total promised to each employee in the establishment of Flanders' work at Total matching skills. Another promise: "no closure or sale" of French refineries will happen within five years.

Substitution project

Before the start of the meeting, Total has confirmed its participation in the construction of an LNG terminal by EDF in the port of Dunkirk. The agreement provides for "an equity Total capital 'of society, Dunkerque LNG, a subsidiary of EDF responsible for the construction of this terminal will terminal.Ce regasification capacity of between 10 and 13 billion cubic meters per year. The decision regarding its actual construction will be taken before the summer and could be put into service in 2014.It remains "conditioned on obtaining all regulatory approvals and the completion of commercial procedures and tenders for construction."

This project would mobilize up to 1,200 people during construction "and could generate" at least fifty direct jobs, which should add about 150 jobs indirectly "in the operating phase out the two groups. The Industry Minister Christian Estrosi had rightly warned that the Dunkirk refinery would reopen if there was "no real alternative project" to maintaining employment.

But this news should not necessarily good news for employees. The CGT and Sud believe that this project is too distant and "inadequate" to compensate for job losses.For 12 hours, the employees of Dunkirk appear before a seat of Total Defense.

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They were committed in February to book a package totaling 38 billion euros "new money medium and long-term" cash advance till payday .They will now add 58 billion euros to authorize appropriations for the short term, for a total increase of 3% of the amount of credits granted, compared to the year 2009.

The year 2009 has indeed been particularly hard to finance small and very small, which have seen the amount of cash loans granted to them fell by 14% over the year. Even as the needs of new money was made more critical by an economic crisis.

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The Government looks forward to the official position of Total in this case. The group must decide precisely Monday on the fate of the Flanders refinery, which employs 370 employees and 450 subcontractors. Since mid-September, the site is in "stop cyclical" because he can no longer sell its output, given the current weakness in demand for fuel.

"For the moment we have no binding commitment on the part of Total and I say very clearly, the Government will be firm," said Minister of Industry.

The previous March 2009 is remembered

In any case, the government has warned it did not intend to be outdone in the folder "Total" payday loans . "We will not accept an initiative to be taken unilaterally without any commitments are made to sustain current employment at the refinery," says Christian Estrosi.

Last Tuesday, the Minister noted that Total was considering the possibility of opening an LNG terminal in the port of Dunkirk.

In March 2009 already, the oil company had attracted the ire of politicians, after announcing the abolition of 555 posts in France, including 249 by 2013 in the refinery.A few weeks earlier, had issued a total record profit for 2008 of 13.9 billion euros.

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Responding to a request by senators, Eric Woerth has indeed held to reintroduce an element of equalization in the distribution to local communities of the future contribution of value-added businesses (CVAE), which replaces, with the contribution of property, business tax . Specifically, one quarter of the proceeds received from this CVAE be taken in favor of an equalization fund, then transferred to regions and departments in accordance with economic and social.A measure designed to correct inequalities that may be caused by the territoriality of the contribution.

All these changes will not affect business leaders, set for some time about the nature of the contribution they must pay. The business tax, which will disappear in 2010, is in effect replaced by a double contribution: the contribution of corporate property, sitting on the rental value of land occupied buildings, and the famous contribution of value-added businesses, paid from 500.000 euros turnover.