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In the space of just three months, Axa sold nearly half its stake in Goldman Sachs. According to a document quoted by U.S. stock market regulator the Financial Times, the French insurer has sold nearly 16 million shares of U.S. bank and reduced its share from 5% to 2.1%. The funds were raised to bail out financial services group.

The withdrawal of the French group came at a time when the famous Wall Street bank saw its market capitalization melt after an investigation by the U.S. court on possible fraud. In the quarter, the title of the investment bank collapsed by nearly 23%.

Other major shareholders of Goldman Sachs have also reduced their stake in the bank business loan no fax payday. BlackRock and T.Rowe Price have respectively sold 1.6 million and 4.2 million shares Goldman Sachs.

Meanwhile, Axa has reduced its stake in U.S. Bancorp and that of Barclays and acquired stakes in Wells Fargo and Bank of America.

However, the bank always seems to be supported by Warren Buffett had invested in September 2008 – is in financial crisis – some five billion dollars in bank capital. The investor would also prominent candidate for the acquisition of Direct Line, a subsidiary of British bank RBS.

Washington announced Friday it had cleared the merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines. The Department of Justice indicated that the two U.S. companies had responded to his objections to their merger, leaving a number of slots for landing and takeoff at Newark International Airport near New York.

Downstream Europe in July

United Airlines, the third American company, Continental Airlines and fourth, had announced in May their intention to merge under the single name of United. The European Union, the guardian of competition in Europe, had already given its approval to the transaction at the end of July. In a statement, Brussels stated that his investigation confirmed the complementarity of the two companies' networks for Transatlantic routes, since they operate hubs in different U.S. cities."So there will be a marginal increase in market share," concluded the European Union. But a refusal of the United States was to be feared, as authorities in 2001 vetoed a previous merger between United Airlines and U.S. Airways on the grounds that it would reduce competition in the transport sector to the detriment of the public.

Fusion 1 October

The U.S. Department said it had closed its investigation as a result of the merger between the two companies, which gives them the field libre.Dans a statement, the two companies said they expected to complete their reconciliation of by 1 October. By marrying, they hope to better withstand the difficulties faced by the industry today, including the rising cost of fuel and competition from low cost airlines.Together they serve 370 destinations in 59 countries, with a combined turnover of 29 billion dollars, a fleet of nearly 700 aircraft and about 87,000 employees worldwide.

Bids climb for 3PAR. The computer giants Dell and Hewlett-Packard are engaged in a struggle to redeem the American Society of data storage. A standoff that intensified this week.

Last rebound on Friday: HP announced in mid-afternoon that he raised his bid for 3PAR to $ 30 per share, valuing the company proposed data storage to 2 billion dollars! Rival Dell had announced earlier in the day he lined up on the previous HP offers made Thursday night: $ 27 per share, or $ 1.8 billion.

In this battle of "cloud computing (cloud computing via the Internet), and two days are alike. The day of Thursday has been marked by the same scenario.By putting on the table an offer to 1.8 billion, HP responded to Dell, which had outbid earlier in the day.

For Dell, the matter seemed closed Thursday morning. Thirty cents per share closely. Indeed, the offer was raised from Dell was barely higher than that of HP, to 24.30 cents per share against 24 cents. If the transaction would receive the green light from authorities, Dell assured however that it could be finalized before the end of the year. The computer maker also added that the operation "should have a positive impact on [his] profit excluding exceptional items from fiscal 2012.

The "cloud computing" is popular

He had not reckoned on the pugnacity of HP.The acquisition would allow 3PAR to expand its range of storage products for cloud computing and support services activities, like other industry heavyweights like IBM, they tend to generate higher profit margins than sales of computers.

The ball is now in the hands of Dell. And it did not intend to waive 3PAR Friday. "The group continues to believe that the acquisition of 3PAR, and its storage technology market leaders, is an important operation for our customers and will strengthen Dell's position on these services," he said in its statement.Dell has until Sept. 20 to launch a public offer to acquire all the shares of 3PAR, "unless the offer is extended," he says.

The battle began last Aug. 16, when Dell announced plans to acquire 3PAR price of $ 18 per share. A week later, HP came out of the woods. Last Monday, the group also proposed 1.6 billion dollars against 1.15 billion for Dell. The suspense continues, therefore. And the recovery of 3PAR flies …

On Friday, shares of Hewlett-Packard bend 1.5% to 37.6 dollars in Wall Street, about 17 hours, while Dell shares advance 1.8% to $ 12. 3PAR him, flew 21.5%.

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Dropped 6% Eurostoxx 50 in four meetings. -4.5% On the Dow Jones. The stock markets are feeling the pinch since five days after a series of disappointing indicators. But the deteriorating economic conditions may explain in part the decline of recent days. A new phobia stirred since mid-August the community of technical analysts, very active in the Anglo-Saxon: the Hindenburg omen. According to this theory based on statistical observation, when during a single session, a large amount of assets a share price reached its highest level since 52 weeks and another group of shares is in contrast to a low of 52 weeks, then it presages a new crash on Wall Street. This configuration has indeed preceded all the crashes of the past 25 years.Now this rare phenomenon has been observed on August 12 last.

At first glance, the analysis may seem silly, but when we know the possible influence of technical analysis on decision making in trading rooms, the question deserves some attention here. An emphasis on this theory could have the effect of precipitating the collapse of markets by a kind of anticipatory self-fulfilling.

What happened on August 12

On 12 August, the same day at least 2.9% of U.S. stocks from the NYSE reached a peak of 52 weeks, while at least 2.6% of values fell to a low of 52 weeks. This configuration, called "Hindenburg omen," referring to the crash of a German Zeppelin in New Jersey in 1937, would thus poses a risk of an imminent collapse in the New York Stock Exchange.For the scenario is validated, however, requires that the configuration is again within 35 days. However, if one sticks to the analysis of Robert McHugh Marketoracle website, seems to have been the case, last August 20.

More ominously, this type of configuration, which, under certain conditions, would have preceded each of the 25 crashes last year. This was the case before the crash in the fall of 2008. The figure was also present a few weeks before the stock market crash of 1987. We could observe three trading days before the panic of October 1989. With this indicator, the 1990 recession, falling stock markets linked to the collapse of LTCM and Asian crises of 1998 were also predictable.

A highly controversial approach

By looking more closely at the scenario is unlikely to occur. To understand this flag, it must return to basics.The paternity of the Hindenburg omen Miekka back to Jim, who edits a newsletter called the Bull & Bear Report Sudbury. But the very idea of this flag goes back to later, finding its roots in another indicator: the high low logic index, described by Norman Fosback in the 1970s. In his book Stock Market Logic, the American economist, explained why when at the same time, a significant number of shares reached a new high and a significant number reaches a low, markets are likely to decline. This shows that the market is undergoing a period of extreme divergence, which is generally not conducive to future rising stock prices.

But where Norman Fosback had merely simple criteria, proponents of the Hindenburg omen facing a multitude of conditions, which are subject to interpretation, and therefore are not unanimous.That's where the shoe pinches. In practice, it is virtually unenforceable.

Reliable indicators abound in the sense of portent

When the five conditions necessary for the validation of the Hindenburg omen are met, the stock market crash, defined by a rapid drop of at least 15% of stock market indices in the next four months, would then have 30% chance to occur. A contrario reasoning is sufficient to limit the scope of this prediction: if a 30% chance that a crash occurs, there are so 70% it does not happen! This likelihood does not however exclude the possibility of an imminent crash.

This approach also runs counter to the traditional view of technical analysis, which is to banish any source of subjectivity by analyzing the market through simple indicators, not subject to multiple conditions in an attempt to predict the evolution courses in the coming weeks. Technical analysts therefore recommend to always use the same indicators that markets go up or they fold, including the trend of moving averages.These reliable indicators not currently exclude a decrease of 10% to 15% of the market in the coming weeks, as recommended in the Hindenburg omen.

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The Paris Bourse hesitated Wednesday

The five conditions of the Hindenburg omen

First, the quota values that cross new thresholds upward or downward has been lowered. For Norman Fosback requires a minimum of 5% of the relevant securities. But for the Hindenburg omen it requires a much lower threshold of 2.5%.

Further, the followers of the Hindenburg omen believe it should be interpreted in light of several other indicators on the conditions of validity of five.The first condition, the most important is that the highest and lowest of 52 weeks. The second is that the moving average of ten weeks NYSE should be increased. Thirdly, the McClellan Oscillator (a proxy measure of volatility) must be negative on the same day. Fourth condition: the highest amount of new 52-week values the NYSE should not exceed twice the amount of new low of 52 weeks. Finally, and this is the fifth and final condition: the scenario must be repeated within 36 days after the first appearance of this configuration market.

August subdued for the French economy. According to a first estimate, the flash PMI index of purchasing managers stood at its lowest level since five months, to 59 points, against 59.7 in July, reported Markit. Pessimists will note that the services are in decline, against 61.1 to 59.9 in July. As for industry, she has continued to destroy jobs in the month of August.

But optimists emphasize that, although down compared to July, the PMI indicator reflects a strong growth in business services as industry. This also recovers to 54.7 against 53.9 a month earlier. In general, grade Markit, the two sectors have "stronger growth in the volume of new business" on the month. What "confirm the solidity of the French takeover," analyzes Jack Kennedy, economist at Markit.The government has revised its forecast Friday for growth for 2011 downward from 2.5% to 2%.

On another positive note, employment continued to grow, driven by strong hiring in the services. Above all, companies "remain confident about their business outlook," "anticipate new business opportunities" and "hope for an improvement in overall economic conditions over the next twelve months," notes Markit.

Germany shaped

In Germany, activity has accelerated in August, reaching the highest since three years, according to Markit index. This was up by 59.3 points, against 59 in July. "The strong growth in services from the index, while the industry recorded a slight slowdown in growth."While some manufacturers are worried about the holding of world trade, the robust performance of services will be crucial in the second half" to maintain the dynamism of the recovery in Germany, analyzes Tim Moore, an economist at Markit.

The PMI index for the entire euro area fell slightly to 56.1, against 56.7 points in July. This result, which indicates a growth in activity, conceals alarming disparities between national economies, growth still based primarily on Germany and France, "warned Markit.

"After an excellent second quarter, growth in the third quarter should be relatively robust to the heart of Europe," said Pierre-Olivier Beffy, chief economist at Exane BNP Paribas."A further rise in significant business is in the cards, probably beyond current expectations."

Less optimistic economists at BNP Paribas' doubt that the dynamism in the services prevent the European economy to slow sharply in the second half. "

During the month of August, when all friends are gone on vacation, a feeling of loneliness can soon make its appearance. That's why the site RentaFriend chose the summer to offer its services in the United Kingdom and France. Since last July on the other side of the Channel in recent days on the canvas hex, this website offers to rent an American friend in the true sense of the word.

For a subscription of 19 euros per month, or 54 euros per year, the site provides access to a database containing the profiles and contact information of 283,000 men and women worldwide. These people, they register for free, detailing their name, age, place of residence but also hobbies and passions. The 2500 subscribers can then contact them by email or telephone to offer them to accompany them to the restaurant, cinema, for a stroll, a VIP or travel.

The company to 8 euros per hour

If no tariff is imposed, the friend offers to rent usually a base price of 8 euros per hour. The latter, for which all costs are borne by the person who contacted him, pocketed the entire sum at the end of the day. The site itself, survives financially through paid subscription for access to the base coordinates. "The site is profitable," says founder Scott Rosenbaum.

According to the American version of RentaFriend, launched in October 2009, it has been the rental of their friendship their daily livelihood. "If you charge $ 20 an hour and you work three days a week, you can make $ 1,920 a month. If you work full time at the same hourly rate, you can reap USD 3,200 a month, "promises the site. "There is no obligation to be friends with anyone.You decide which bind with a friendship, how much you charge and how long you want to work. You make all the rules! You're the boss! ".

"A new way to meet people"

This type of site is already paying friendlies in Japan, where the archipelago are at least a dozen. RentaFriend exports so the project in Europe. From what to wear uncomfortable associations fighting against loneliness. "The idea of connecting people who feel alone with others is positive because the latter do not occur. But it would be better if it was not paid. The danger in this scenario to be in a relationship distorted trade, while the need to promote human relations, "says Peter Villelongue, association, St. Vincent de Paul who fight against the phenomenon.

"I think people do not fully grasp the concept.Nearly 90% of members are not alone, or depressed. The evidence shown, "defends Scott Rosenbaum facing controversy. "The most common use is that of finding a local friend to play the guide during a trip or looking for dialogue for learning languages. People buy the company, they lease time another person for a specific purpose. Scott Rosenbaum said he also "stunned" by the debate provoked by RentaFriend since its launch in Europe: "I thought the U.S. was prudish and that other countries were more relaxed," wryly creator of the site.

Pinned on the risks of sexual abuses, Scott Rosenbaum scans again the critics: "Every profile is manually checked and we have a system of alerts that words allow us to act. Anyway, there are thousands of website offering sex on the Internet.There is no reason for an individual to try on RentaFriend.

For the rest, Scott Rosenbaum is confident. "I was approached by organizations and private funds but for now, I'm not looking for investors. However, if someone is interested in buying, I'm willing to listen to offers, "he says. Meanwhile, the young man of 30 years is an international coverage by the end of the year. "People should open their minds and see the benefits they can derive rather than judge, consider til.

A Chinese owner of the club from Liverpool? The fund China Investiment Corporation (CIC), led by the wealthy Kenny Huang, would in any case confirmed its interest in the Reds. More than just a word, CIC has already reached the cash to afford the football club. And, by selling 9% of share capital the fund held in Morgan Stanley. Amount generated: 558 million (the équivelant 351.4 million pounds). Either the decimal point, the debt of British club, reports the Guardian.

Another businessman claiming close discussions with the club to five European Cup victories. He called and said Yahya Kirdi be supported by a group of Canadian investors and Saudi Arabia. "Our group is in advanced negotiations with Tom Hicks and George Gillett, current owners of Liverpool Football Club, to purchase 100% of the club.An agreement was reached on the major terms, including purchase price, repayment of debt (approximately 300 million euros, ie) banks RBS and Wells Fargo to finance a new stadium Stanley Park. The formal contract of sale is in its final stages of negotiation, "he announced.

Statements to be taken lightly. For the sale of the club is orchestrated by Martin Broughton, Chairman of the club, with the support of the British bank Barclays. But Yahya Kirdi does not seem to have negotiated with them directly.

But whether or Yahya Kirdi Kenny Huang, sale of Liverpool seems on track. The leaders of the Reds have more alerted the Premier League, as want new rules on sale of a club, a club takeover was imminent.

The club Liverpool is not the only shine in financial difficulty.Since the beginning of the crisis, fifteen of the twenty clubs that make up the Premier League are looking for investors. According to the audit firm Deloitte, the overall debt of the elite of British football came to 3.6 billion euros in 2009. Manchesteur United, Arsenal and Chelsea, the other three clubs in the "Big Four" are also on trial.

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Having finished sharply higher Monday, the U.S. markets followed their European counterparts in the red. On Tuesday, the Dow Jones coward 0.36% 10,636 points at closing. The Nasdaq and the S & P retreating respectively 0.52% to 2284 points and 0.48% to 1120 points.

Markets were waiting for signs of solid U.S. recovery now but they were not reassured. The Commerce Department announced that consumer spending of U.S. households remained unchanged in June In addition, the consumption figures in May were revised downward: they no longer show a rise of 0.1%, against 0.2% previously announced. Economists had forecast an average increase of 0.1% of consumer spending in June

Household income is also unchanged in June at 0.1%, while economists had estimated the increase at 0.1%.The savings rate has reached 6.4%, up a tenth of a point, its highest level since June 2009.

Prices are down 0.1% in June and inflation falls to 1.4% a year.

Furthermore, he promises the sales on the U.S. housing market suffered an unexpected drop in June The index of the federation of Realtors NAR is thus fell to a new record low 75.7. He had fallen from 29.9% in May after the expiration of a tax credit for first-time buyers. In one year, the show promises to sell a drop in June from 18.6%.

In addition, industrial orders fell 1.2% in June, while the market was expecting a decline of 0.5% only. In May, these orders had fallen 1.8% (revised from -1.4%), posting a second consecutive month of decline.

Dow Chemical and Procter fall

On the corporate side, Dow Chemical (-10.06% to 25.48 dollars) and Procter & Gamble (-3.50% to 59.89 dollars) derive the score down. Both companies have disappointed the markets by their results published before the market opens. The first was reported earnings below expectations in the second quarter to $ 566 million, or 50 cents per share, after posting a loss of $ 486 million (47 cents per share) the previous year. Excluding items, earnings totaled 54 cents per share against 56 cents expected by analysts. The second has announced a profit drop of 12% in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year lagged below expectations at 2.185 billion dollars. The turnover is also lower than expected, growing by 5% to 18.926 billion dollars against 19.1 billion dollars expected.

In contrast, Pfizer (5.56% to 16.34 dollars) flies. The pharmaceutical giant reported earnings up 9% year on year to 2.475 billion dollars against 2.261 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share excluding exceptional items stood at 62 cents while analysts expected 52 cents on average.

RIM (-2.54% to 55.53 dollars) on Tuesday introduced its new BlackBerry. No officer of MDR was available after the presentation of the Torch, a touch screen device and slider to evoke the "discussions" going on with the authorities in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia worry about the barriers to safety that arise messaging services on the BlackBerry.

Morgan Stanley (-0.72% to 27.48 U.S. dollars) has decided to split the fund FrontPoint risk investments, acquired in 2006 by U.S. TV network CNBC that the transaction would be completed within three months. This split would allow Morgan Stanley to comply with new requirements of the Dodd-Frank legislation on financial regulation, which limits the bank's own brokerage and speculative positions.

Sanofi-Aventis has sent the U.S. biotech group Genzyme (-0.23% to 70.20 dollars) a letter citing his interest in American society, said Monday a source close to the deal, adding that both companies were discussing supply.

The automotive sector also changed on Tuesday after the publication of sales of major manufacturers for the month of July.Ford (-1.75% at 12.93 dollars) despite rising sales of 5% as its competitors, disappoints. Toyota is doing well (1.07% to 72.81 dollars) after avoirqui has reported a 6.8% decline in shipments in July.

The battle over Sunday work in Paris is not over. The prefecture of Paris has indeed refused classification tourist areas of the capital, where normally only stores open on Sundays, Scope of outstanding consumer use (chip), the CFTC said Saturday, confirming a report Le Parisien. A classification that makes all the difference for employees.

The designation entitles them to chip counterparties determined by collective agreement, and failing that, to compensatory time off, salary doubled and the ability to refuse work on Sundays. This classification is written into the law of August 2009 on Sunday work and allowed malls open illegally on Sunday to continue the practice without having to pay fines.

Paris will not benefit from this device."The Prefect of Paris has denied the request of Mayor Bertrand Delanoe to rank tourist areas of the capital as Bullet," the CFTC said in a statement. For the union, this decision is contrary to the promise made by Nicolas Sarkozy, that "those who work on Sundays will be voluntary and paid twice."

The exception "tourist"

The zones of tourist interest are beyond the rule.The Sunday opening of all types of businesses is right, and employees are not entitled to compensatory rest must or a doubling of earnings.

"Once again the argument is made that the law Maille on Sunday is only a law made for large retailers, and this undoubtedly to the detriment of family life, personal and spiritual associations," says the CFTC.

There are seven tourist areas in Paris: Part of the Rue de Rivoli, Place des Vosges and rue des Francs-Bourgeois, Arcola Street, Avenue des Champs Elysees, part of the Viaduc des Arts Daumesnil , part of the Boulevard Saint-Germain, part of the Butte Montmartre.The government wants to see more shops open on Sunday in Paris and proposed a map of tourist areas greatly expanded.

The Socialist mayor blocked the project but on the field, she noted that a growing number of supermarkets began, immediately, to open on Sunday afternoon with impunity.

(With AFP)

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